SAMBALPUR: The much awaited annual Sital Sasthi carnival began here on Tuesday night marking the return of baraat of Lord Shiva after marriage with Goddess Parvati.
What makes the carnival remarkable this year is participation of thousands of folk dancers. Around 8,000 folk artists from across the country have been invited to participate in the carnival at an estimated budget of about `63 lakhs drawn by Jharuapada, Nandapada and Mudipada, Sital Sasthi Jatra Committees.
The dance troupe from Assam is slated to perform Bihu while dancers from Punjab will render feet tapping Bhangda on behalf of Jharuapada Jatra Committee.
Besides, dancers will perform Paika Akhada and Medha Nacha from Puri, Chaiti Ghuda Nacha, Bhuta Nacha and Putuli Nacha from Ganjam, Karma dance from Hemgiri and Ghumra dance from Kalahandi.
The Nandapada Jatra Committee has invited artistes from Purulia to perform Chhau and Radhakrushna Leela. Besides, artists will perform Sabar dance and Bengali Dhak Baja with folk dancers from Uttar Pradesh and Chennai.
This apart, Jodi Sankha artistes from Berhampur, Kalash dance troupe from Keonjhar, Parbha dance from Puri, Bagha Sandha Nacha from Athagarh, Ghumra from Phulbani, Chhota Ghoda Nacha from Jagatsinghpur, Kathi Nacha from Gopalpur will display their skills on behalf of Nandapada Jatra Committee.
In addition to this, Dhol Baja from Raigarh, Ghumura and Kandha dance from Titlagarh, Kalki dance from Bodasambar, folk dance from Bihar and 50 eunuchs will participate in the carnival on behalf of Mudipada Jatra Committee.
With overcast condition making the weather pleasant after a good spell of rain in last couple of days, the carnival has drawn huge crowd from across the State besides neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
The homecoming procession of the divine couple is considered one of the oldest cultural carnivals of the country. The carnival will continue till the wee hours of Wednesday and after a break will continue till Wednesday afternoon.