Nabarangpur, Oct 22 [UDN}:The Nabarangpur district branch of the All India Bhatra Development Council organised a grand celebration of Maa Danteswari’s nine-day religious festival and a Nuakhai Bhetghat at the premises of the Maa Danteswari Temple near Dhamanaguda Chhak under Dabugaon police station limits in Nabarangpur district.
The programme was held under the chairmanship of Jagannath Majhi, district president of the All India Bhatra Development Council. More than 20,000 people from the Bhatra community and other sections of society reportedly gathered at the sacred temple premises to participate in the religious and cultural celebrations, turning the venue into a sea of humanity.
Odisha Minister for School and Mass Education Nityananda Gond attended the programme as the chief guest. Among the distinguished guests were Gouri Shankar Majhi, Nabarangpur MLA and chairman of the District Planning Board; Narasingha Bhatra, Jharigam MLA; Rupu Bhatra, Kotpad MLA; Manohar Randhari, Dabugaon MLA; Zilla Parishad chairperson Motiram Nayak; former Dabugaon MLA Bhujabal Majhi; former MP and state president of the Bhatra Development Council Parshuram Majhi; former MP Ramesh Chandra Majhi; Jagadish Bhatra, central president of the organisation representing nine districts; and Radha Bhatra, chairperson of the Umerkote Municipality.
Office-bearers of the Bhatra community from panchayat, block and district levels, along with representatives from outside Nabarangpur district and members associated with different political parties, also attended the event in large numbers.
The nine-day festival of Maa Danteswari and the Nuakhai Bhetghat were celebrated with great enthusiasm and traditional fervour. Various cultural programmes enlivened the sacred temple premises, reflecting the community’s rich cultural heritage, customs and traditions.
During the event, office-bearers of the council, elected representatives from the Bhatra community and the invited dignitaries were felicitated with traditional uttariyas, bouquets and gifts. The guests highlighted the customs, traditions, values and ideals of the Bhatra community, emphasising the importance of preserving its cultural identity and strengthening unity among its members.
Two members of the community, one male and one female, who had attained positions in the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS), were also honoured for their achievements. Their recognition served as a source of encouragement and inspiration for young people in the community to pursue education, competitive examinations and responsible positions in public service.
A significant announcement was made during the programme when Narasingha Bhatra, MLA from Jharigam, promised to provide ₹15 lakh from his MLA Local Area Development Fund for the construction of a gate at the Maa Danteswari Temple. The proposed construction is expected to contribute to the development and improvement of the temple premises.
Parshuram Majhi, state president of the Bhatra Development Council, urged everyone to pay attention to the overall development of the temple surroundings and work collectively towards improving the sacred site.
The programme was efficiently coordinated by Ramadhar Majhi, district vice-president of the council; Gopinath Majhi, district secretary; and Rupu Pujari, district treasurer. Prakash Nayak, Rajaman Bhatra and Ghana Majhi played important roles in conducting the stage proceedings in an organised and engaging manner.
During the gathering, photographs of former office-bearers who had contributed to the establishment and development of the district-level Bhatra community organisation were handed over to the district vice-president, Ramadhar Majhi, for preservation at the council’s office. The gesture paid tribute to the contributions and memories of those who had passed away.
The celebration brought together community leaders, elected representatives, cultural participants and thousands of people, highlighting the significance of religious faith, traditional festivals and community solidarity. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by state president Parshuram Majhi, following which the meeting was formally brought to a close.
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