Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said the national capital is a “Mini India” that embraces people from every state while attending the second day of Odisha Parba 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted how the city reflects the country’s cultural diversity and the contributions of communities from across India.
“Delhi, often called a ‘Mini India’, warmly embraces people from every state, and the Odia community has enriched the city’s cultural fabric. Odisha Parba being celebrated with such grandeur in Delhi reflects how deeply the Odia community remains connected to its roots and cultural traditions.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to everyone celebrating this wonderful festival,” she said. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, who also attended the celebrations, said the festival provides a vibrant glimpse of Odisha’s rich culture and traditions and highlights the creativity of its artisans.
“It is a privilege to be present at Odisha Parba for the first time, and the atmosphere here truly makes one feel as if we are in Odisha itself. The festival beautifully showcases Odisha’s culture, traditions, handicrafts and cuisine, and highlights the contributions of artisans, especially women.
Such initiatives strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ by bringing people closer to the diverse cultural heritage of our country,” she said. The three-day festival was inaugurated a day earlier in the presence of Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan, Delhi Minister Ashish Sood and other dignitaries.
The second day featured traditional Odia dance and music performances, exhibitions of handloom and handicrafts, and stalls serving popular cuisine such as Kataka Dahibada and Jagannath Mahaprasad. The festival also includes “Pratibha Utsava”, a talent platform for emerging artists, and a series of seminars titled “Talk Today, Transform Tomorrow”.
Organised by the Odia Samaj of New Delhi, Odisha Parba is an annual cultural festival celebrating the heritage, cuisine, handloom and handicrafts of Odisha. The three-day festival, being held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday.
Comments are closed.