Report by Kahnu Nanda; Jagatsinghpur: The five day Jagatsinghpur Zilla Mahotasav Kallolo-2017 organised by district council of culture concluded amidst the tune of drums and sounds of crackers at Collector office parade ground here on Wednesday evening. The valedictory function was attended by state excise and co-operation minister Damodar Rout, accompanied by state planning board vice chairman Bishnu Das, MLAs Chiranjeev Biswal, Prashant Muduli, Zilla Parishad President Priyadrashani Biswal and NISER head Dr Abhaya Nayak as chief speaker, collector Yamini Sarangi chaired the closing day meeting.
Speaking on the event Minister Rout lauded the rich cultural heritage of Jagatsinghpur district and its contributions during freedom movement for building Odisha a linguistic state in mid-thirties. However minister praised substantial developments for Jagatsinghpur have been achieved during passing years. Minister too stressed time has come those are thinking for the people of Jagatsinghpur and its development are required to come together with a common agenda barring political identity and differences , he stressed.
While speaking on the occasion legislator Chiranjiv Biswal expressed unhappiness against the ruling party MLAs mainly former MLA Bishnu Das delivering political speeches and using the celebration as party platform highlighting his government’s achievements in state, the celebration has been recognised as government function and a non-party podium and a socio cultural carnival but district BJD leaders are mis utilising the endeavour, he rued. Congress MLA Biswal’s resentment was supported by his party people those protested the event and set fire on Bishnu Das effigy in a demonstration held on Tuesday, sources informed
This annual carnival provides an insight into the rich and vibrant cultural tradition of region including Odisha Depicting Jagatsinghpur’s past history and glory this Mahotsava showcased the traditional art and craft of the state and provides artisans, craftsmen and culturists including participating visitors an idyllic platform to exchange ideas and notion for up building the region.
Originally Zilla Mahotsava was brain child of former Jagatsinghpur MLA Bishnu Das who started it being inspired with two major cultural events of district as Kalinga Baliyatra in Paradeep and Jagatsinghpur Pustaka Mela [Book Fair] held at district headquarters every year. Remembering two occasions as district’s birth day and Utkal Diwas both descend on 1 April Bishnu had started the fest in Jagatsinghpur
EX MLA Mr Das had preferred this annual celebration organised regularly inviting state chief minister, ministers, Assembly speaker, judges and eminent dignitaries and obviously this five days function had turned in to a platform to spread the state governments several developmental messages. Perpetually on opposition party congress had alleged that Former MLA Mr Das was using the Mahotsava as a plat form to develop his political mileage and popularity and serious mismanagement and corruption were marked collecting donations for the occasions, protesting the event Congress party had boycotted the celebration in the year 2006.
Putting the allegations at rest district council of culture has been organising the fest since 2007 and named it as ‘Kallola’ and much more interest have been put maintaining transparency and probity, in the year 2014 the celebration had cancelled following general elections.
This year the organiser s have made elaborate arrangements to allocate more than 110 stalls for the private and government sponsored departments to show case their products and achievements and charges have been fixed sparing these stalls. The district council of culture had planned to stage cultural nights on five days and felicitate renowned personalities hail from Jagatsinghpur for their outstanding contribution to society on art culture, literature, music and dance including science and technology. [Ends]
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