New Delhi, Mar 15: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday described the national capital as a “Mini India” that warmly embraces people from every state, while attending the second day of Odisha Parba at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Addressing the gathering, Gupta said the city reflects the country’s cultural diversity and acknowledged the contributions of the Odia community to Delhi’s social and cultural life.
“Delhi, often called a ‘Mini India’, warmly embraces people from every state, and the Odia community has enriched the city’s cultural fabric. Odisha Parba being celebrated with such grandeur in Delhi reflects how deeply the Odia community remains connected to its roots and cultural traditions. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to everyone celebrating this wonderful festival,” she said.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, who also attended the event, said the festival offers a vibrant glimpse of Odisha’s culture and highlights the creativity of its artisans.
“It is a privilege to be present at Odisha Parba for the first time, and the atmosphere here truly makes one feel as if we are in Odisha itself. The festival beautifully showcases Odisha’s culture, traditions, handicrafts and cuisine, and highlights the contributions of artisans, especially women. Such initiatives strengthen the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by bringing people closer to the diverse cultural heritage of our country,” she said.
The three-day festival was inaugurated a day earlier in the presence of Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Delhi Minister Ashish Sood and other dignitaries.
The second day of the event featured traditional Odia dance and music performances, exhibitions of handloom and handicrafts, and food stalls serving popular Odia dishes such as Kataka Dahibara and Jagannath Mahaprasad.
The festival also includes “Pratibha Utsava,” a talent platform for emerging artists, and a series of seminars titled “Talk Today, Transform Tomorrow.”
Organised by the Odia Samaj of New Delhi, Odisha Parba is an annual cultural festival celebrating the heritage, cuisine, handloom and handicrafts of Odisha.
The festival began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
