Dhamnagar: The state government has declared Bandhatia village under Dhamnagar block in Bhadrak as a folk art village in the district.
A formal notification to this effect will be published October 2, to mark Gandhi Jayanti. The district, the block and Zilla Kalakar Sangh will jointly organise cultural programmes at Ganesh temple to celebrate the occasion.
Notably, many folk arts are dying across the state due to lack of patronage. In view of this, the state government had initiated measures to revive the dying folk arts in 2011 by forming Lokakala Sanghs and Block Kala Sanskruti Sanghas. Later, the government gave further impetus to the promotion of art and culture by forming Nagar and Raja Kala Sanskrutui Sanghas.
Pala, Daskathia, Sankirtan, Pattachitra and Bhagabat Tungis were recognized as folk art.
Every year, Lokakala Mahotsav is being organised jointly with the financial and technical assistance from the department of Odia language, literature and culture and Unicef.
In 2018, Chief Minister Naveen Pantaik had asked the district administrations to identify a Lokakala village in each district.
Bandhatia was chosen as a folk arts village in view of its richness in art and culture.