Koraput: The month-long state level tribal festival Parab 2018 came to an end here Sunday. Addressing the closing ceremony, MP Jhina Hikaka said the festival of indigenous people is a true reflection of its very soul. “It is in fact the mirror of the century-old tribal art, culture, music and dance for which Koraput has its own identity. The tribal art has contributed greatly towards enrichment of our glorious cultural heritage. Parab is a step in this direction and the festival has reached its 23rd year of celebration,” he said.
Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy said Parab is a perfect platform to share culture and to spread a message of harmony, integrity and brotherhood among all and the administration has tried its best to promote the hidden talents of each individual.
Chakravarthy said Parab is not only for the district but also for the bordering area of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
On the closing day, Kathak exponent Malbika Mitra stole the hearts of the audience while tribal folk and classical dances from other states enthralled the audience. Malabika was felicitated with ‘Sabari Samman’ by the Collector and the SP Kanwar Vishal Singh.
A tourist from Spain said such festivals are really showcasing the real talents of Koraput and it’s a perfect place to know the rich culture and custom of Koraput and nearby districts.
Meanwhile, Pallishree Mela organised on the sidelines of the festival registered good business during the three days. More than 300 stalls were set up by Koraput District Supply and Marketing Society and ORMAS.
Jagannath, a wrought iron artist from the border area of Koraput, said, “Such platforms are highly essential for us to showcase our talent.”
Anand Nayak, a terracotta seller from Kusmi, said, “We had a good sale this year. We are happy for selling our products at Parab as it gathers a lot of tourists.”
DIPRO Koraput Jagannath Prasad Raiguru and DCO Akshaya Kumar Sethy said the three-day long main event would come to an end, while the Pallishree Mela will be open till 20th November at the festival ground.
PNN
