CULTURE

Delhiites get a feel of food and culture of Odisha

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Delhi got a glimpse of Odisha and its art, culture and heritage over the weekend when the national capital organised the second edition of Odisha Parba 2018 at India Gate. The three-day extravaganza focussed on Odisha and included a series of performances featuring live art shows, traditional folk performances, live music and fashion show featuring traditional handicrafts, arts, crafts and textiles from Odisha and gave people a cultural and heritage treat.

Themed as 'Indomitable Odiya', the festival saw a spurt in the number of food stalls from last year—18 to 80. There was a mix of traditional vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and the organisers had specially invited roadside vendors operating in Odisha to showcase their skills and offer a memorable platter. The food court was designed in a fort style, reflecting the ambience of 'Baarah Maasi Tera Parba', which reflected Odisha’s passion for festivals in one calendar year.

Local joints from Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar and other parts of Odisha also participated and served a range of flavours such as chat, dahi vada, fish curry, prawn delicacies, a variety of pickles, chicken pakoda, egg pudding, papad, rabdi and roshogulla.

Highlighting the idea to organise the festival, Sandeep Mahapatra, trustee, Odiya Samajh, a non-profit trust, said, “We wanted to educate people that there is more to Odisha than Jagannath Temple and other pilgrimage sites. There couldn't be anything better than inviting artists from Odisha and giving them a platform to showcase their skills.”

History was another area where the festival organisers paid a special tribute to the bravehearts of Odisha, who fought through the turbulent times during the British rule. “People don't know about the history of Odisha during the British rule. We have set up a stage with the backdrop of Barabati Fort to evoke the glorious past of the state,” explained Mahapatra.

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The festival also showcased a range of traditional folk performances in the form of Odissi, Sambalpuri and Chhau dance. While Padma Shri Aruna Mohanty mesmerised with Odissi dance, internationally renowned sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo displayed a sculpture gallery.

Odisha's different handicrafts and traditional weaves such as Sambalpuri, Bomkai and Kataki were showcased at a fashion show organised with the help of FDCI's chairman Sunil Sethi. Three renowned designers, Divya Sheth, Shruti Sancheti and Raas presented an unforgettable journey into the world of weaves, with their modern and unique twists to celebrate this unique amalgamation of Odiya craft and fashion.

The three-day event, which was dedicated to traditional dances, sumptuous food, art, musical and cultural performances, handicrafts, heritage and folklore, also showcased more than 100 handloom and handicraft stalls, a children's section and group paintings. To make art sessions interactive, a painting competition titled ‘Aakar’ was also held to give opportunities to children below 18 years of age to spread their creative wings.

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