Baripada: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday attended the National Bandana Parab-2026, a traditional festival of the Mahanta and Kudmi communities, organised at Aguada playground in Durgapur under Badashi block of Mayurbhanj district.
The Chief Minister, who was on a one-day visit to the district, arrived at the venue around 11 am and received a warm welcome from local residents and party workers. He performed Go-Puja (cow worship) and Hal Puja (plough worship) in accordance with Kudmi community traditions.
The festival ground reverberated with traditional Jhumar dance performances and the rhythmic beats of the madal, as thousands of people from nearby areas gathered to participate in the celebrations.
Expressing happiness over his participation, Majhi said the state government would explore ways to give the festival wider recognition and expand its reach in the coming years. He lauded the rich cultural heritage, art and traditions of the Mahanta and Kudmi communities.
The community members and local residents also urged the government to accord Bandana Parab the status of a state-wide public holiday instead of restricting its observance to Mayurbhanj.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said his interaction with members of the Kudmi community had revived fond memories of his childhood.
Describing Bandana Parab as a tradition rooted in nature, soil and cattle wealth, Majhi highlighted the longstanding bond of brotherhood between the Santal and Kudmi communities in the Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar regions.
He also appreciated the Kudmi community for preserving its distinct cultural identity while making progress in education and social development.
The Chief Minister said the vision of a developed Odisha could be realised only through the inclusive progress of all sections and communities under the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Badashi MLA Sanatan Bijuli, Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi and other dignitaries attended the programme.
