Berhampur: The 37th Inter University East Zone Youth Festival “UMANG” kicked off at Berhampur University on February 16, 2024, with great enthusiasm and fervor. The event, which will continue until February 20, began with the impressive sight of a 100ft flagpole adorned with a flag measuring 30ft in length and 20ft in breadth. Sri Aswini Patra, Odisha’s Minister of Language Literature and Culture, graced the occasion by officiating the ceremony at the PG Council building.The festivities unfolded at the Berhampur University grounds, where Associate Professor Dr. Anjan Prusty warmly welcomed the participants and attendees with his opening speech. Dr. Sourav Lakhan Pal and Dr. Deepak Mishra from the All India University (AIU) emphasized the pivotal role of youth in shaping the nation’s future and the festival’s essence of color and joy, reflecting a beautiful amalgamation of diverse cultures.Chief guest Sri Aswini Patra highlighted the importance of youth empowerment in the digital age, urging skill development and leadership cultivation. He commended Berhampur University for providing a platform for showcasing talents and cultural heritage, while also shedding light on Odisha’s rich cultural legacy and government initiatives for development.Guest of honor Sri Ramesh Chandra Chyoupattnaik praised Odisha’s cultural richness and expressed his gratitude in Odia, invoking “Jay Jagannath.” MLA Bikram Panda, an esteemed alumnus of the university, lauded the participants and expressed his joy at being invited as a guest of honor.Prof. Geetanjali Dash, Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University and President of the event, emphasized the significance of AIU in fostering inter-university collaboration and celebrating India’s diverse cultural tapestry. She reiterated the event’s goal of providing a platform for skill demonstration and leadership development.The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. S K Baral, expressing gratitude to the minister for gracing the event despite his busy schedule. Prof. Ganesh Sethi and Dr. Sarita Das played crucial roles as convenor and cultural coordinator.While Dr.Jayant Panda and Prof.Jogeswar Panigrahi are co convenor of this event respectively, ensuring the smooth execution of the program.”UMANG” witnessed enthusiastic participation from four states—Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand—comprising 16 universities and over 700 participants across 28 categories. The day’s festivities culminated in a vibrant cultural rally, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of all participating universities through folk dances and customs, followed by an evening of lively cultural performances, marking the beginning of a grand celebration of youth and culture at Berhampur University.
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