New Delhi: The 45th Annual Cultural Festival of Utkalini, an Odia women's organization established in Delhi and the National Capital Region in 1980, was held in New Delhi on 19th December 2025.
The festival was graced by renowned Kathak dancer Shobhana Narayan as the chief guest.
Writer and art critic Varshas Dash was Guest Hounour. She had the distinction of serving as Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Museum and Chairman of National Book Trust.
In this cultural program, Shobhana Narayan said how she lived in Cuttack city of Odisha in the 1960s and got a glimpse of the rich culture of Odisha which she could see it in the Kalahandi Ghoomura dance performed in Utkalini's program that day. She hailed from Bihar State and said how Odisha was able to transform Chandashoka into Dharmashoka after the Kalinga War and the greatness of Odisha's culture in transforming Ashoka has been acclaimed throughout history.
When Varsha Dash said that she knew Odia and spoke in Odia, she was cheered with a burst of applause. She said that she learned to speak Odia after marrying the famous painter Jatin Dash and that her son Siddhartha and daughter, the famous Hindi film actress, Nandita Dash continue to speak Odia fluently. She also said that she can read Odia and has translated the Odia writings of the famous Odia writer and poet Sitakanta Mohapatra to her mother tongue Gujarati. In this context, she expressed her gratitude to Odisha and said that Odisha has given her a lot and she has learned a lot from Odisha.
In this annual cultural festival of Utkalini, the members of Utkalini performed 'Narishakti' by showcasing the handicrafts of Odisha and its beauty on stage and captivated the audience.
Performance of Odissi dance based on the story of Kaivartya washing feet of Lord Ramachandra, as described in the Vaidehisha Bilash of Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja mesmerized the audience.
Finally, the Odia play Brain Gain dot Com was staged. Utkalini President Sabita Sahu read the annual report and other office bearers of Utkalini Madhumita Sahu, Subhrlin Mohanty, Snigdha Das, Vandana Mohanty and Deepika Mishra along with other members of Utkalini played an invaluable role in successfully conducting the program.
