Jagatsinghpur: The Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW) on Sunday celebrated its first anniversary by felicitating people who are ‘living heritages’ from among the masses and are contributing towards the popularization and awareness on the heritage of district.
Jagatsinghpur, the most literate district of Odisha and birthplace of Adikabi Sarala Das, the 15th-century poet-scholar and a foundational figure in Odia literature, is home to many talented individuals from several fields. Sagarbala Patnaik (76), popularly known as “Basanti Apa”, is a daughter of Jagatsinghpur, who acted in hundreds of plays in the renowned Annapurna Theatre Group (Annapurna Rangamancha) in Cuttack during the sixties, would perhaps be the most celebrated dignitary on the occasion, who’s present life story is no less a film script in its own right.
She also acted in films like Sesha Sravan, Mana Akash and Samay bada Balaban. Though she has become frail and age has affected her own survival, she has not lost hope and with a tea stall. She is not only earning a living for herself, but helping her accident-stricken son and creating a monumental sacrifice as a loving mother.
As every bit of Jagatsingpur is connected to the divine blessings of Maa Sarala, the team of Mihir Nana and his team were felicitated for keeping the “Ghanta Patua” dance tradition of Goddess Salara in Odisha and outside including foreign land. Their display of the “Ghanta Patua” tradition and style on stage also soaked the session with pure and unique divine bliss.
With a unique gesture and recognition Shyam Chacha, a well-known Muslim devotee of Lord Jagannath and known as “present-day Salabega” (a famous devotional poet and one of the greatest devotees of the Trinity in the past) and Seikh Sahil Mohammad, a son of the soil and ardent lover Odissi dance were also felicitated. Mohammad also performed “Mangalacharan” on stage and displayed his art with applause from the audience.
Among others, who were felicitated by the JHW members, also included Shishir Kumar Panda, president of “Kala Sanskruti Sangh” in Tirtol block of Jagatsinghpur district, who has been performing for over five decades and has been preserving the ancient art forms, Hemant Kumar Raut for preserving the ancient folk art and dance form “Ghoda Nacha” in today’s modern era.
Priests Subash Panda and Babaji Panda for their leadership role in keeping the spiritual traditions live at the Trilochaneswar Temple in Kundeswar village and the Ajaikapada Bhairava, Sapthatrika and Siddheshwar temples in Sathalpur village.
Priests Shiva Prasad Panda and Shankar Prasad Panda, in-charge of the Ishaneshwar Temple in Kostimallikapur village as they are taking great care of the ancient sculptures in this temple and preserved them for the future generations.
The list also included Sahu family of Lunahar village for building a small temple for the ancient Nrusimha deity they found in their pond, and are also conducting their daily services to preserve the heritage. The Sethi family of Bhatpada Nandol village were honoured as while excavating the ground to build their house they discovered a Madhava Vishnu idol and built a for Him.
The JHW members also felicitated the Handloom Society of Badabag village near the Jagatsingpur town as generations after generations the weavers are supplying handloom products to the vicinity and beyond. Kundan Kumar Paswan, a youth who works for rescuing and conserving snakes across Jagatsinghpur and beyond as a member of the Snake Helpline was also felicitated.
On the occasion, students were also awarded in drawing and general knowledge competition. They are Lipsa Das, Somjit Swain, Priya Sharma, Subhangi Das and Sampurna Mohanty (drawing) and Soham Tripathy, Pratya Gaurav Nayak, Bismayaya Swaran Kandi, Smruti Abhilipsa Sahu and Dayama Prasad Das (general knowledge) respectively.
Earlier, the annual magazine “Aitihya Banikshetra” was unveiled by a galaxy of dignitaries like educationist Basanta Manjari Das, Dipak Samantarai, Ambika Patnaik, Ranjan Kumar Panda and Bhagaban Das. The event was coordinated by convener of JHW Srikant Kumar Singh, and founder member Biswaranjan Dehury.