The State-level mega tribal festival of Nabarangpur district Mondei-2012 began at the block-level on Thursday.
The inaugural puja was performed at Bhairab temple at Podagad village by Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Ramesh Majhi, local legislators Manohar Randhari and Subas Gond, District Collector Yamini Sarangi and ZP president Motiram Naik. A congregation of local tribal dance troupes brought the Mondei ‘mashal’ to the venue. Recalling the history of the festival, Majhi said the festival provides local artistes an opportunity to interact with their counterparts from other states.
The block-level celebrations will continue till Monday. On Tuesday, the Mondei carnival would begin from Maa Bhandargharni temple and cultural troupes from across the country and the State will perform. An attraction of the festival is the Mondei Yatra where every village deity is worshipped after the new harvest.
The celebration was started in 2002 by Arabind Padhee, the then district collector, following communal disturbances in 2000 and 2001. The aim was to usher in communal harmony and provide a platform to bring to light the latent talents of the region. Besides, the event would provide an opportunity for tribal youths to mingle with people from urban areas.
