RATHA YATRA AND ODISHA FESTIVAL 2024 Utkala, the cultural wing of Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti to host the ODISHA FESTIVAL

Utkala, the cultural wing of Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti, has announced the celebration of Ratha Yatra and the Odisha Festival from July 7th to 15th, 2024. The festivities commence with Netrotsav, followed by a vibrant roadshow (Rath Yatra) on 7th July from Khidirpur Jagannath Temple to Northern Park, Bhawanipur, where the deities will reside until July 14th, 2024. This procession will feature performances by various Kirtan groups along the route to Northern Park. Mr. Chandra Sekhar Panigrahi, President of Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti, announced the inauguration of the Odisha Festival on July 8th, 2024. The festival will commence with an inauguration ceremony by Prabhu Nitai Das, Chairman of Community Development of ISKCON New Town, Kolkata. The nine-day festival will feature numerous cultural performances, alongside an exhibition showcasing Odisha handicrafts. This year, the prestigious Utkala Samman will be awarded to Padmashri Pandit Antaryami Mishra, a distinguished columnist, astrologer, and researcher who has contributed significantly to Odia language, grammar, Research on Jagannath Sanskriti and culture for over five decades, authoring 37 books, some of which are included in textbooks. Expressing his enthusiasm,

Sri Guru Prasad Pattnaik, President of Utkala The Cultural wing of Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti, highlighted the diverse cultural programs planned for the festival, including the Dance Theatre “The DRAUPADI Phenomenon” by internationally renowned Odissi virtuoso Vidushi Sanchita Bhattacharya, Dance Troupe, Gotipua dance, supported by the Cultural Department of the Government of Odisha, EZCC, Government of India, performance ARPANAM by Lahori group of Bengal, Temple Sevayats, a Drawing Competition for school children, a Cultural program by Soul to Soul Troupe, Sri Srijan Chatterjee & Troupe, Mahiri, Sambalpuri & Mayuri dance by Natraj dance Academy, Odishi dance by Mrs Sharmistha Pal, Mrs Arunima Acharya and Bhajan performances by Sri Sricharan Mohanty and Troupe. Anup Jalota, renowned as the Bhajan Samrat, will perform on July 12th, 2024, during the festival, promising to be a major attraction for his soulful renditions of devotional music. A highlight of the festival includes the traditional Khiri-Pitha competition among ladies on July 14th, which holds cultural significance in the region. Devotees and visitors can avail of Prasad by collecting coupons from the Prasad counter throughout the festival. The 9 days long Rath Yatra festival will end with the Suna Besa of Deities