New Delhi, Mar 15: Odisha Parba 2026, the three-day cultural festival celebrating the rich heritage, traditions and artistic legacy of Odisha, concluded Sunday successfully at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, drawing a large number of visitors and cultural enthusiasts from across the capital.

The ninth edition of the festival witnessed enthusiastic participation from the Odia community as well as people from diverse backgrounds, reaffirming Odisha Parba’s growing stature as one of the most prominent cultural celebrations in the national capital.

Over the three days, the event recorded unprecedented footfall by 1.7 lakh visitors, while artisans, food vendors and exhibitors generated good business, reflecting strong public interest in Odisha’s traditional crafts, cuisine and cultural offerings.

Also read: Odisha Parba 2026 Highlighted Handicrafts as Key to Odisha’s Cultural and Economic Growth

The third and concluding day witnessed the presence of Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati as chief guest. Kapil Mishra, Minister of Tourism, law & justice, Govt of Delhi was the guest of Honour at the event.

“I am glad to participate in Odisha Parba. It is heartening to witness the vibrant spirit of the Odia community in the national capital, celebrating Odisha’s rich culture, timeless traditions and proud heritage. I appreciate the Odia Samaj for organising this wonderful festival that beautifully showcases Odisha’s cultural legacy and strengthens our collective bonds,” said Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati.

The second day of the festival was graced by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who interacted with members of the Odia community and appreciated the efforts made to preserve and promote Odisha’s cultural heritage in Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, she noted that Odisha Parba reflects how deeply the Odia community remains connected to its roots and traditions even while living away from their home state.

The festival was inaugurated on Friday in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Minister Ashish Sood, and several other distinguished guests.

During the inaugural ceremony, Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that Odisha Parba has evolved into an important platform for showcasing Odisha’s culture, traditions and artistic excellence in the national capital.

Throughout the three-day festival, visitors experienced a vibrant showcase of Odisha’s performing arts, with captivating performances of traditional Odia dance and music drawing large crowds each evening.

The event also featured exhibitions of Odisha’s renowned handloom and handicrafts, including Pattachitra art and silver filigree, along with a variety of traditional cuisine that attracted enthusiastic visitors.

A major highlight of this year’s edition was ‘Pratibha Utsava,’ a talent hunt platform for emerging artists. For the first time since the festival’s inception, a dedicated talent search session was organized in which students from Odisha participated in cultural dance and artistic performances, both solo and group, providing young artists an opportunity to showcase their talent on a national platform.

Complementing the cultural festivities, the festival also hosted a series of seminars under the theme “Talk Today, Transform Tomorrow,” bringing together thought leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss Odisha’s development journey and its vision for a self-reliant and progressive future.

Food lovers enjoyed an authentic culinary experience at the festival’s food court featuring iconic Odia dishes such as Cuttack Dahibara and Jagannath Mahaprasad, while the exhibition pavilion showcased Odisha’s traditional crafts, textiles and artistic heritage.

“Odisha Parba has become a powerful platform to showcase Odisha’s culture, traditions and progress in the national capital. He noted that over the years the festival has played a key role in strengthening the identity and visibility of Odisha among people across India,” said Siddhartha Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj.

Organized by the Odia Samaj of New Delhi, Odisha Parba 2026 once again demonstrated how cultural celebrations can bring communities together, promote traditional arts and crafts, and strengthen bonds between people across regions.

As the festival concluded on a high note, organizers expressed gratitude to visitors, artists, artisans, volunteers and dignitaries who contributed to making the event a grand success.