Bhubaneswar, May 29: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today, through a video message, conveyed his greetings to people on the occasion of Shital Shashti and invited everyone to join the festival in Sambalpur from May 30 to June 2.

"The holy festival of Shital Shashti has created an atmosphere of spiritual bliss everywhere. The festival is being celebrated in Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Barpali, and Bolangir amid religious fervour. Shital Shasthi is a rare blending of divinity and folk culture. On this auspicious occasion, I convey my greetings to all elders, mothers, sisters, uncles, and brothers," Pradhan said in the video message.

The Union Minister said the great Shital Shashti festival has always glorified Sambalpur, which stands on the Mahanadi River.

Rituals like "Thali Utha", "Patar Peni", "Gua Guna", "Deba Nimantrana", and "Deba Bibaha" have accorded a special identity to the Shital Shasthi festival. Attractive performances of folk art, folk music, folk dance and folk songs add to the divinity, he noted.

Stating that Shital Shashti is part of India's rich cultural heritage, the Minister informed that the Government of India has prepared a postage stamp to mark the festival this year. He expressed happiness that the Odisha government has sponsored Shital Shashti this year.

He urged all to participate in the festival.

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