New Delhi, Mar 13: The inaugural day of the Odisha Parba 2026 has come to a closure as the national capital witnessed a vibrant beginning to the three-day event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The aroma of Odia traditions, customs, and cuisine filled the Delhi Durbar. The three-day event, which will conclude on Sunday, is not just a festival but a matter of pride, especially for Odias living in Delhi.

Organized by Odia Samaj, the three-day extravaganza was inaugurated on Friday. Odia Samaj president Siddhartha Pradhan welcomed guests and invited them to partake in Mahaprasad.

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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Sanjay Kumar (Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy), MP Sukanta Panigrahi, NBT Director Lt. Col. Yuvraj Malik, CSIR-NBRI Lucknow Director Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasany, and many dignitaries enjoyed Mahaprasad and visited various stalls.

The Education Minister also admired the stone carvings displayed by Padma Vibhushan sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo and explored Odia books exhibited by NBT.

The inaugural day concluded with captivating cultural performances. The cultural evening captivated audiences with a mesmerising Odissi dance performance by students of Orissa Dance Academy, choreographed by Padmashree Aruna Mohanty.

Odisha’s renowned Sambalpuri singer Umakant Barik added soulful melodies, enthralling the crowd. The audiences also had an opportunity to witness a duet performance by Umakant and another Sambalpuri singer Saswat Tripathy.

Traditional art forms further enriched the event, with vibrant Bonda tribal dance, rhythmic Dalkhai folk dance from Western Odisha, and the energetic Dhemsa tribal dance from Koraput.

Together, these performances showcased Odisha’s rich cultural heritage, leaving the audience spellbound and celebrating the state’s diverse artistic traditions.

Also Read: Odisha Parba 2026 Opens with Spiritual and Culinary Dialogues

Earlier in the day, two thematic discussions were held. The first theme, Dharma Odisha: From Identity to Self-Reliant India, focused on Odisha’s diverse spiritual traditions.

The second session, Swaad Odisha (Taste of Odisha), centred on branding Odisha’s culinary heritage. Discussions highlighted Odia cuisine, temple food traditions, tribal delicacies, and coastal flavours. The day also featured Pratibha Utsav, where many artists showcased their hidden talents.