Pravash Pradhan
Post News Network
NEW DELHI, April 1: When Orissa gears up for the Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, there is hardly any effort to propagate the mega event, its culture and heritage outside the state.
When contacted, chief resident commissioner of Orissa Bhavan in Delhi, Sunil K Bhargav said, “We have started publicising Nabakalebar with our monthly newsletter ‘Odisha Rising’ this month. We try to reach out to as many as Oriyas and non-Oriyas staying outside the state and disseminate information about this festival,” adding, “We expect publicity materials, hoardings from the Culture and Tourism Department. We also plan to talk to resident commissioners of other states for propagation of the festival of Lord Jagannath.”
With the beginning of Banajaga Yatra, the process of the mega event has started.
The event will culminate with Rath Yatra in July 2015.
“It is definitely an opportunity for the government to propagate the rich traditions of Lord Jagannath outside state. It not only will help enhance the image of the state but also boost tourism,” said Gokul Patnaik, president of Orissa Forum.
The newsletter by the resident commissioner office carries minuscule information about the festival, the arrangements in the holy city, Puri.
The government however is learnt to have made preparations and infrastructural up-gradation to accommodate over five million devotees from all over the world.