BHUBANESWAR: The 46th annual convention of Odisha Society of Americas (OSA) and the First Global Odisha Conference brought Odias, both the Diaspora as well as from Odisha, to Washington DC recently.
It was a fusion of Odia culture and tradition; globalisation and development as well as business entrepreneurship and global exchange of Odisha’s cultural heritage through an international network.
Spiritual leader Chandra Bhanu Satpathy opened the global conference at the John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in presence of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, State Minister for Tourism and Culture Ashok Panda, Minister for School and Mass Education and Industry Debi Prasad Mishra were among the top invitees from the State.
A tableau depicting Odisha’s folk and classical dance forms and reflecting Sarva Dharma Samabhaba ushered in the proceedings. It was choreographed famous Odissi danseuse Aruna Mohanty and a troupe of 40 dancers.
Legislator Priyadarshi Mishra, acclaimed sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra, sand artist Sudarshan Pattanaik; film star and Rajya Sabha member Anubhav Mohanty and famous singer Shyamamani Pattnaik were also present.
President of OSA Tapan Padhi said the global conference was an endeavour towards bringing Odias from around the world to one stage and plant a seed for think-tank based groups to explore the immense talent around the world which could help Odisha.