Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 1.08 crore for the celebration of the Sital Sasthi festival in Sambalpur district.
The grant has been approved on the orders of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and will be disbursed through the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department. As part of the initiative, a total of 21 committees involved in organising the festival in Sambalpur district will receive financial support.
Welcoming the decision, Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that the Sital Sasthi festival is deeply associated with Odisha’s cultural heritage, traditions, and religious significance.
He said the state government has taken steps to ensure that the festival is celebrated with grandeur and added that efforts are being made to give Odisha’s major festivals and pilgrimage sites wider global recognition.
“The Sital Sasthi festival of Sambalpur is inextricably linked with the rich culture and traditions of Odisha. Our government is committed to promoting and giving a distinct identity to the festivals and pilgrimage destinations of the state at the global level,” Suraj said.
