MONDEI-2013 FESTIVAL KICKS OFF TO A COLOURFUL START.

BY:  BASANT RATH,  

JOURNALIST

Amid much fanfare the State-level mega tribal festival of Nabarangpur district Mondei-2013  was inaugurated by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi on Wednesday.

The inaugural puja was performed at Rajchauria temple, of Kodinga under Kosagumuda block by Minister Majhi, Dabugam MLA Bhujabala Majhi, District Collector Yamini Sarangi, ZP president Motiram Naik,

Superintendent of Police Brajesh Kumar Rai, Add. district magistrate Bhimman Seth, Sub-Collector Parakhita Sethi, joined hands together to celebrate lunching of Mondei-2013 by torching the light in presence of

district level officers and member of the civil society who had reached from across the district.

A congregation of local tribal dance troupes brought the Mondei ‘mashal’ to the venue.  Addressing the gathering Minister Mr.Majhi, said cultural festivals like this create awareness among the people about their age-old tradition and heritage, at the same time local artists get the rare opportunity to exchange views with their counterpart of the country, contributing to our own heritage, he further spoke briefly on the development programmes of government.

Speaking to the occasion Dabugam MLA said the tribals of this district are organising Mondei in different places including at Kodinga, but the mega cultural festival celebrated by the district council of culture was definitely a bold step which symbolises the age old tradition of the tribals. 

Presided over the meeting Collector Ms.Sarangi said that the district which completes 22 years of its formation, could proudly claim that it produced patriots, freedom fighters, eminent men of letters and harbingers of its rich culture, Mondei has now in 12 years which succeeded in integrating the people as was evident from the enthusiasm with which thousands of tribal men and women participated in the festival from panchayat level to district level. Besides, local tribal folk dances, troupes from other district of Odisha and outside of

states performed. 

Different cultural troupes from the Gram  panchayat level performed their dances, and music  “Atrupta Atma” Drama staged in the evening.Various departments including SHGs showcased their crafts and schemes in the stalls.  On the occasion the guests released the Mondei-2013poster, and handed over Mashal to different blocks for their celebrations. The Block level festival will continue till Dec 9th.