KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, April 14: The conference hall of Utkal Association was filled with a melodious ambience as poets recited beautiful poems marking the Odiya new year on Friday evening.
Though located hundreds of miles away from Odisha, the atmosphere at the conference hall of the premier organization at Sakchi was like the venue was somewhere in Odisha.
During the occasion, over a dozen poets and literary figures in their speech remembered how the people belonging to the community would sail through distant countries like Java and Sumatra for trading centuries ago from Kalinga which is today’s Odisha.
Those who addressed the gathering, also called upon the people living outside Odisha to keep up the Odiya tradition and culture intact. They also stressed the parents to inspire their children to learn how to read and write Odiya even though pursuing their academic careers in English schools.
As the Odiya new year falls on the day of Bishuba Sankranti, it is also called “Pana Sankranti.”
Those who attended the function were served delicious ‘Pana,’ a kind of drink made of cord, fruits and molasses during the occasion.
Significantly, an Odiya periodical ‘Singhbhum’ was released by Prof Manoj Mohapatra who graced the occasion as a chief guest prior to the commencement of the Kabi Sammelan.
Singhbhum’s editor Badal Bhuyan while speaking on the occasion said that the periodical will meet the linguistic expectations of thousands of Odiyas living in this region and beyond.
Prominent among those who attended the function include Dr Shridhar Pradhan, president, Utkal Association, Dr Sanjay Patro, dean, XLRI, Mrs Sushmita Patro, Renubala Mishra, Geeta Gaud and Prof Ashok Mohapatra.
