BHAWANIPATNA: The Kalahandi Utsav Ghumura started in the district on Saturday at Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium. A colourful ‘mashal’ procession was started from Manikeswari temple by the cultural troupes and culminated at the festival venue.
Kalahandi Collector Brundha D inaugurated the festival in the presence of Vigilance Special Judge, Chtaranjan Dash, and DRDA Project Officer Binit Bharadwaj. Apparently, political representatives kept away from the inauguration ceremony in the wake of the code of conduct for the election of Bhawanipatna block samiti president. Folk dance troupes from Kalahandi, Balangir, Cuttack, Malkangiri and artistes from Kalamandalam from Kerala performed. A Pallishree Mela is being organised along with the festival. On Sunday, Kabi Sammilani was organised. Simultaneously, a sub-divisional level Utsav was started at Dharamgarh from Sunday.