Nabarangpur, Jan, 03: As in previous years, this year too, with the objective of encouraging forest-dwelling communities during the month of Dhanu, the Banotsav (Forest Festival) of the local Rashmi Ranjan Siddhashram, located at Taragaon in Nabarangpur town, was celebrated in a grand manner at Rani Duduma, near Nandapur in Koraput district.
The festival was held under the presidentship of Dr. Neelakantha Padhi, the Padadhushita of the Ashram, with Shiva Shankar Patra managing the event, and was attended by hundreds of devotees and followers. After refreshments at the Kanta Baunsuni Shakti Peetha premises in Damanjodi, all devotees traveled in three buses to Rani Duduma.
Amidst the gathering of forest dwellers, a satsang was held where the chief guest, Jagannath Satapathy, President of the Undivided Koraput Hindu Mahasangh, and the chief speaker Bimal Kumar Pattanayak delivered their addresses. The program also featured a dance performance by Mili Harijan, devotional bhajan and kirtan by devotees, and distribution of Bhagavad Gita books, winter clothes, and donations to the forest dwellers.
This was followed by Gita recitation, the president’s address, kirtan, arati, and distribution of prasad, after which the satsang concluded. In the magnificent natural surroundings of Rani Duduma, a community picnic was organized with the participation of forest dwellers. The attendees also toured Rani Duduma and enjoyed its scenic natural beauty.
The successful organization of the program was supported by Kshirod Chandra Bisoyi, Sanjukta Bisoyi, Dashamu Patra, Indumati Padhi, Neelakantha Bisoyi, Lachhman Bhatra, C.H. Agha Rao, V. Bala Raju, Umashankar Jena, Sanjay Kumar Barik of Damanjodi, Pratap Chandra Bisoyi, Bhaskar Bisoyi, Veer Kishore Bisoyi, Harishchandra Bisoyi, and many others.
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