New Delhi: The three-day cultural festival “Odisha Parba 2026” has begun at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, celebrating the rich art, culture and heritage of Odisha while bringing together members of the Odia diaspora in the national capital.
Organised by Odia Samaj, the annual festival has grown into a prominent cultural platform since its inception in 2017 and now attracts wide national and international attention. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday inaugurated the event as the chief guest, while Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Delhi Government Education Minister Ashish Sood attended as guests of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said the primary aim of the festival is to inspire the younger generation to take pride in their Odia identity and actively promote the Odia language and culture at national and global levels. He emphasised that Lord Jagannath forms the foundation of Odia identity and that the blessings of Mahaprabhu have helped the people of Odisha build a distinct cultural presence across the world.
“This festival organised in the national capital provides a meaningful platform to celebrate and reaffirm the pride of Odia heritage,” Pradhan said in a series of posts on X. He thanked Odia Samaj, a leading socio-cultural organisation based in New Delhi, for organising the event and said the festival has gradually evolved into a national movement strengthening the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.
The minister also invited members of the Odia diaspora and residents of Delhi to attend the event and experience the diverse art forms, traditions and natural beauty of Odisha.
This year’s Odisha Parba holds special significance as it coincides with the 600th birth anniversary of Adikavi Sarala Das and the 200th anniversary of Satya Mahima Dharma.
Highlighting the importance of the coming decade, Pradhan noted that 2036 will mark the centenary of Odisha becoming a separate state. He said the next ten years should be a period of commitment and collective effort for building a prosperous and developed Odisha in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat”.
The festival features a vibrant lineup of cultural performances showcasing Odisha’s traditional and contemporary art forms. Classical, folk and tribal dance presentations such as Chhau, Bagha Nacha and Sambalpuri dance are among the highlights of the programme, drawing enthusiastic audiences.
Apart from cultural performances, the event also celebrates Odisha’s rich culinary traditions. Food stalls serving a variety of regional dishes, including seafood and traditional Odia delicacies, have attracted large numbers of visitors.
The festival also includes “Pratibha Utsava”, a talent platform for emerging artists, along with recreations of traditional festivals such as Raja and Nuakhai, offering visitors an immersive experience of Odisha’s living cultural traditions.
Several eminent dignitaries are expected to participate in the remaining days of the festival, including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.
Over the years, Odisha Parba has emerged as an important cultural bridge connecting Odisha with the national capital, providing a platform for artists, performers and entrepreneurs to showcase the state’s vibrant traditions to a wider audience.
