Southern California Odia community celebrated Odisha Divas

Southern California:19/4/26:  Southern California  Odia community celebrated Odisha Divas on April 11th, Saturday at Chinmaya Mission in Tusti, organized by Cheer Up Foundation. The main aim of the program was to connect the kids to Odisha and its rich culture and heritage. This was an attempt to showcase Odisha to others in a foreign land.

The program started with the welcome speech by Dr. Asish Satpathy of Cheer Up Foundation, a nonprofit organization that organized the event. Guest of Honor, Brahmacharini Sandhya ji of Chinmaya Mission Los Angeles, blessed the occasion by lighting the lamp while the kids chanted the verses of the Bhagavat Gita.

Kids performed and excelled on instruments, playing Hum Honge Kamiyab on Piano, Rangabationn Guitar, Fur-Elise on Piano, Fantaisie by Gabriel Fauré on Flute, Jeevan Ke Din Chhote Sahi on Piano, Odisha Mo on vocals. It was followed by a kids’ drama, ‘Dharma’, based on the conversation between Lord of Dharma, Yama, and Yudhisthira from the epic Mahabharata.

Community singers of the ered melodious ‘Sundara Mo Odisha’ song as a tribute to the motherland. Odia Timeless Classic songs like Adine Malli Mahaka, Pada Re Pada Chhanda, Jhumka Tike, Aie Pani Re Pani, Tiki Tiki ghanta chale, Nahin Mo Pade, Mora Mana Udi Jaye were performed by highly talented community dancers and performers.

In memory of Vaidehi Mishra, the High School Essay competition winners were awarded by Dr Shakti Mohapatra. The jury consisted of Padmashri Prof. Prasanta Pattnaik, Prof. Sitikantha Mahapatra, Prof. Madhu Mohanty, and Dr. Asish Satpathy, who have evaluated for the best and impartial review. Special Guest from Odisha, Dr. Nazia Alam, mesmerized the audience with Odissi music, Semi-Classical, Ghazals, and Film Songs in Odia and Hindi. She was the highlight of the show as an Ambassador of Odissi classical music. Ravi Deo accompanied her on tabla.

The audience was spellbound by Odissi dance ‘Prakruti Purusha’ which was performed by Guru Pabitra Pradhan and Sharanya Mukhopadhyay. Main coordinators and volunteers for the program were Sunita Nayak, Dipti Ranjan Pal, Saubhagya Tipathy& Pulllak Mohanty, Chinmaya Panda, Madhu & Manoj Sutar, Evarani Sahu, etc. Presenters of the segments were Dr. Asish Satpathy, Gowri Mishra, Smita Pattnaik, Kasturee Mohapatra, and Purna Patnaik.

All went home with a delicious Odia meal with Rasgolla and Chhenapoda. Artistry of Odisha, patachitra, has been distributed to all Odia families to promote our art and culture. The event met with unbridled cheer, leaving everyone with a lasting sense of satisfaction.