RAYAGADA: Chaiti-2014, the five-day annual cultural festival showcasing tribal art and culture of Rayagada district began at the GCD Grounds here on Saturday.
After worshipping the Goddess Majhigharani, presiding deity of Rayagada, locals in presence of Collector Sashibhusan Padhi and SP K Shiba Subramani brought the Chaiti ‘mashal’ to the festival venue.
The festival was inaugurated in the evening by Women and Child Development Minister Usha Devi. Speaking on the occasion, Tribal Affairs Secretary Hrushikesh Panda said the festival is a unique platform for tribal artistes in this part of the State. Special attraction of the inaugural day was the Prince Dance Group from Berhampur that had won the reality television show India’s Got Talent in 2009. This year, more than 500 artistes from Odisha and outside are participating.