The State Government has decided to include Rangabati Festival of Western Odisha music and dance forms in its cultural calendar from this year. After hosting it for three days in the Capital this month, the Culture Department on Wednesday decided to organise it again in the second half of the year. As many as 10 troupes from nine Western Odisha districts, which have been instrumental in popularising dance and music of the region, had participated.
The Department is also contemplating to organise this festival in Cuttack, Balasore and Berhampur.
It was also decided that the Sangeet Natak Akademi will organise special cultural events to mark the birth and death anniversaries of legendary Odia singer Sikandar Alam and ‘Bhajan Samrat’ Bhikari Bal every year. This apart, Adivasi Nrutya Mahotsav, Sankirtan Mahotsav, Pala and Daskathia Mahotsav will feature in the annual cultural calendar. On Republic Day and Independence Day, a festival of patriotic songs will be organised by the Akademi.
Officials said all these festivals and events will be organised at the Rabindra Mandap and would be widely advertised by both the Culture and Tourism departments.
The Government since last year has been organising several events to bring to the fore different art forms which are languishing sans patronage.