Bhabanipatana: Kalahandi’s traditional Ghumura folk dance is facing renewed concerns over its preservation after the Maa Manikeswari Ghumura Training Centre in Bhabanipatana has remained closed since November 2024 following the stoppage of government funding.
The centre was inaugurated January 14, 2023, under the state Culture Department and the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi to promote and develop Ghumura, a traditional folk dance of Kalahandi.
Thirty young enthusiasts from different parts of the district were enrolled for a one-year training programme, with a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000 each and certificates planned on completion.
A one-year curriculum had also been prepared for the programme.
However, the withdrawal of government funding brought the training programme to a halt, leaving the centre locked since November 2024.
Artistes and Ghumura practitioners say the lack of sustained government support is affecting the younger generation’s interest in the dance.
The number of village-based Ghumura groups performing during Nuakhai and other traditional festivals, including Khandabasa, Chhatar Yatra and Dussehra, is also reportedly declining.
Ghumura artistes often struggle to pursue the art professionally because of livelihood concerns.
Practitioners have also called for the dance form to be included in school and college curricula to familiarise students with its history and performance traditions.
There are demands for a dedicated Ghumura academy, greater research and institutional support from the state government and the Sangeet Natak Akademi to preserve the art form.
