Kotpad, : Sept 16 [UDN}:The traditional Koraputia Dhemsa dance of Koraput is all set to showcase its vibrant cultural heritage at a special Nuakhai celebration to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Five prominent cultural groups from Odisha have travelled to the national capital to participate in the special event. Among them are two groups from the erstwhile undivided Koraput region — the Lanjia Saora cultural group from Rayagada district and the Kala Bikash Kendra of Kotpad in Koraput district.
A 16-member team from Kotpad Kala Bikash Kendra will perform the traditional and popular Koraputia Dhemsa dance at the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises on Tuesday evening. Led by Sagar Bisoi, the team has already reached New Delhi and completed its final rehearsals and preparations for the prestigious performance.
The two cultural groups were formally invited to participate in the Nuakhai celebration through an official communication from the Deputy Director of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture. Following the department’s direction, representatives of Kotpad Kala Bikash Kendra travelled by air from Bhubaneswar and reached New Delhi on Sunday.
The Dhemsa troupe includes Sahadev Bisoi, Sritam Samantaray, Shankar Kumar Nayak, Kapilesh Nayak, Suresh Harijan, Dhansai Harijan, Bhuban Randhari, Chandan Swain, Nita Kumari Bhumia, Devi Tulsa Bagderia, Rashmita Bagderia, Bedeshwari Ganda, Malati Bindhani, Mamata Samrath and Anita Harijan, among others.
Established in 2014, the cultural group has already made its mark at several prestigious national platforms by promoting the traditional dance and cultural heritage of the Koraput region.
The group secured first position at the National Youth Festival held in Lucknow in 2020, bringing recognition to Koraputia folk culture at the national level. It has also performed at the International Tribal Day celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2023, the Odisha Parab festival in Guwahati, Assam, and the world-famous Dhanu Yatra in Bargarh, receiving widespread appreciation for its Dhemsa performances.
The invitation to perform at Rashtrapati Bhavan during the Nuakhai celebration is being seen as another significant recognition of the rich tribal and folk traditions of southern Odisha. The performance is expected to provide a national platform for the artists to showcase the distinctive rhythm, costumes, musical traditions and community spirit associated with Koraputia Dhemsa.
For the artists of Kotpad Kala Bikash Kendra, the opportunity is not only a matter of personal achievement but also a proud moment for Koraput and Odisha, as the region’s indigenous cultural heritage takes centre stage at one of the country’s most prestigious venues.
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