‘Ahe Nilashaila’ enthralls Delhi audience at the inaugural ceremony of Odisha Parba

New Delhi: Odisha Parba 2023 was inaugurated in the National Capital here amid joy and excitement today.

The festival is being organised after a gap of three years. It usually showcases the rich and diverse culture of Odisha.

The festival commenced with the staging of historical play, ‘Ahe Nilashaila’ that beautifully depicted the valour and legacy of Gajapati Maharaj Ramachandra Dev.

Odisha Parba will continue till March 26 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the National Capital here.

Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti Bisweshwar Tudu inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp amid chanting of the Vedic hymns.

Artistes also recited Odisha’s state anthem ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ on the occasion. Sidhartha Pradhan President, Odia Samaj and Prakash Sahu and Sandeep Mohapatra, Trustee, Odia Samaj were present on the occasion.

Tudu expressed his happiness for participating in the event. He emphasized upon the economic development of Odisha in his speech.

Sidhartha Pradhan delivered the welcome address and spoke about Odia Asmita (Odia Identity). Around 100 students from Odisha are participating in the festival.

The highlight of the inaugural function was the staging of play ‘Ahe Nilashaila’ by Choklate Productions. The soulful performance of the artiste playing the role of Puri Gajapati won the hearts of the audience. The play shows how Gajapati Ramachandra Dev had to endure difficulties to protect the shrine of Mahaprabhu Sri Jagannath from the greed and treachery of the Muslim ruler Naib Nazim.

The theme for this year’s Odisha Parba is ‘Ananya Odisha’. The idea is to showcase the glorious past of Odisha.