Bhubaneswar, May 30: In a major decision, the Odisha Government announced financial assistance of Rs 1.8 crore for Sital Sasthi celebrations in Sambalpur district, said an official release on Saturday.
According to the release, the decision was taken as per the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The allocation will be used for preparations and arrangements by 21 organising committees in the prominent western Odisha district.
Sital Sasthi festival is a five-day annual celebration of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati’s divine marriage.
The release stated that Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department will provide the financial assistance to 21 puja organising committees in Sambalpur district.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said, “Sital Sasthi is a vibrant celebration of Odisha’s rich traditions, cultural heritage and spiritual ethos. The State Government remains committed towards preservation and promotion of such vibrant cultural traditions.”
“This assistance will ensure the festival is celebrated with greater grandeur and enthusiasm, while further strengthening Odisha’s distinct cultural identity at the national and global levels,” asserted Suraj.
As per the age-old tradition, the five-day divine marriage celebration of the divine couple includes ‘patarpendi’ (engagement ceremony), followed by ‘guagunda’ (invitation to deities), the divine marriage, nagar parikram (city procession), and the temple entry of the divine couple. Thousands of artists participate in various processions during the festival.
