Kolkata: Utkala, the cultural wing of Sri Jagannath Seva Samiti, Kidderpore, is all set to celebrate the Rath Yatra and Odisha Festival 2025 from June 27 to July 5 with grandeur and deep devotion. The celebration begins with a vibrant Rath Yatra procession from Sri Jagannath Temple, Kidderpore to Northern Park, Bhawanipur, accompanied by Kirtan Mandalis and Ghanta-Shankh Badan troupes sponsored by EZCC, Govt. of West Bengal and Ministry of I&B, Govt. of India.
Announcing the festival at a press meet at the Press Club, President Chandrasekhar Panigrahi highlighted that the event is not just a religious occasion but a cultural movement celebrating Odisha’s traditions, unity, and devotion.
A special seminar titled “Sri Jagannath is the True Asmita of Consciousness” will be held on June 30, led by Renuka Rath, and will feature dignitaries from both Odisha and Bengal. On the same occasion, a landmark book “Guardians of the Ten Directions”—a collection of thirty translated stories from eminent Odia writers—will be launched to bring Odia literature to a wider audience.
Highlights of the Odisha Festival include:
- Odissi dance and cultural performances by artists such as Padmashree Durga Charan Ranbir, Meera Das, and Smt. Aditi Munshi & troupe
- Bhajan Sandhya, Sit & Draw and Dance Competitions, and the popular Khiri Pitha competition (July 4)
- Book launch: Sri Jagannath in Bengali Eyes
- Exhibitions of Odisha handicrafts and authentic Jagannath temple cuisine
- Utkala Samman 2025 to be awarded to Writer & Researcher Mr. Gouranga Charan Dash
Dr. Sruti Mohapatra, renowned Disability Rights Activist, will inaugurate the Odisha Festival. The festival is supported by public figures including Ashim Basu, Councillor, Ward 70, who praised the initiative for fostering cultural unity and inclusivity in the city.
The festivities are expected to draw large crowds and will serve as a spiritual and cultural bridge between Odisha and Bengal, celebrating the divine presence of Lord Jagannath in Kolkata.
