Cultural Exchange Takes Center Stage at Odia Asmita Utsav in Manama
The Bahrain Odia Samaj proudly hosted the Odia Asmita Utsav 2025, a vibrant celebration aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage of Odisha on a global stage. Held under the theme of unity through culture, the event brought together dignitaries, performers, and members of the Odia diaspora in a dazzling display of tradition, talent, and identity.
Dr. Arun Kumar Praharaj, Founder of Bahrain Odia Samaj, warmly welcomed the audience and expressed heartfelt gratitude for their support in making the event a grand success. The Utsav served not only as a cultural showcase but also as a platform to reinforce Odia identity worldwide.
safdas
edrtgd
Honouring Culture and Diplomacy
The event was graced by an esteemed lineup of dignitaries. Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, H.E. Vinod K. Jacob, served as the Chief Guest and commended the Bahrain Odia Samaj for its role in strengthening cultural bridges between India and Bahrain. Special Guests included H.E. Ahmed Alhaiki, Undersecretary for Labor and Social Development in Bahrain; the Ambassadors of Japan and Russia; and Dr. Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner at KPMG and member of Bahrain's Shura Council.
H.E. Ahmed Alhaiki praised the initiative as a reflection of Bahrain's commitment to multiculturalism and mutual respect. The event also witnessed the participation of Mr. Abdulla Al Mannai, Executive Director of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, who lauded the exhibition of Odisha's heritage products.
Celebrating Odia Art and Identity
A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of prestigious awards: internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik was honoured with the Odia Asmita Samman, while classical dance exponent Guru Saswat Joshi received the Odia Asmita Nritya Kala Samman for his contribution to Odissi dance.
The audience was captivated by a series of cultural performances, including mesmerizing Odissi, Sambalpuri, and Ranapa dance renditions by the Lasyakala team. A special ethnic walk showcasing GI-tagged Odia products added a unique flavour to the event, celebrating the craftsmanship and heritage of Odisha.
Adding to the festivity, the community's official publication 'Bahrain Utkalika' was unveiled during the event, serving as a voice for the Odia diaspora in the Kingdom.
Words of Support and Vision
In a message delivered during the Utsav, Mr. Arbind Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Odisha, extended his warm appreciation to the Bahrain Odia Samaj for preserving and promoting Odia culture abroad.
The newly elected Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, reiterated his government's commitment to strengthening the global presence of Odia culture and expressed his full support for such diaspora-led cultural initiatives.
A Cultural Bridge Between Nations
The Odia Asmita Utsav 2025 stood as a testament to the power of culture in bridging nations and nurturing identity. With heartfelt performances, cross-cultural engagement, and recognition of Odia excellence, the festival not only highlighted Odisha's deep-rooted traditions but also strengthened the bonds between Bahrain and the Indian community.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Young summer camp stars light up Indian Club stage
With parents, friends, guests and Indian Club members all proudly looking on, the young stars of The Indian Club Summer Camp 2025 made it a night to remember on Friday 15th August 2025 evening as they performed in The Grand Finale and set the seal on what had been an exciting and enjoyable six weeks for the young Summer Campers. The Indian Club Summer Camp 2025 provided a wide variety of activities for the children, whose ages ranged from 4yrs to 15yrs – Yoga, Art & Craft, Music & Dance, Karate, Badminton, Cricket and Sports Day; most of the action took place at The Indian Club, but there were also weekly swimming trips to cool off in the pool and some field trips also. The young stars entertained the audience with a number of exciting, impressive and beautifully costumed dance routines. The Indian Club officials sincerely thanked the Summer Camp teachers, volunteers, Noor Sports & Staff for their support in conducting this event. On behalf of the members of the Indian Club, The President & the Executive committee expressed their sincere gratitude to all the sponsors – Awal Dairy, Al Aujan and P. Haridas & Sons for their generous support towards this event.
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Honouring Freedom, Inspiring the Future – An IFAS Community Reflection
Indian Fine Arts Society, popularly known as IFAS was established in 1974 in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is one of the oldest registered institutions with the Ministry in the island. For last five decades, we have and continue to accept and integrate many cultural events in the best possible way in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and always been committed to its social obligation of spreading the message of love and brotherhood beyond boundaries through promotion of arts and culture. We endeavor to present soul filling music, vibrant classical dances, painting, drama and other forms of classical and semi classical arts. For The Indian Fine Arts Society (IFAS) – Bahrain, Independence Day is a celebration of both heritage and possibility. Freedom is not just a chapter in history - it is the living rhythm in every raaga, the grace in every dance, and the joy we share as a community. Honouring Freedom, it means celebrating our right to express our traditions openly in Bahrain's welcoming, multicultural environment. It means preserving the classical arts of India while opening the doors for all to experience their beauty. Inspiring the Future is about passing this legacy forward - giving young people opportunities to learn, perform, and grow through music, dance, and the arts. Each performance, workshop, and cultural exchange becomes a bridge between generations, deepening roots while broadening horizons. IFAS has been instrumental in bringing world renowned Indian artists to this island, including Shehnai Maestro Bharat Ratna Late Ustad Bismillah Khan, Sangeet Martand Ustad Mohammed Dilshad Khan, Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Padma Bhushan Hussain(Tabla), Ghazal king Padma Bhushan Jagjit Singh, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Balamurali Krishna (Vocal), Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasya (Flute), Padma Vibushan Lalgudi Jayaraman (Violin), Padmashree Kadri Gopalnath (Saxophone), Pandit Shivakumar Sharma (Santoor), Padma Bhushan (Vocal), Padma Bhushan Smt. Padma Subramaniam (Classical Dance), Padmashree Smt. Chitra Visweswaran (Classical), Padma Bhushan Late M.L. Vasanthakumari (Vocal), Flute Maestro and Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj (Kathak). As India marks its 78th Independence Day, we reaffirm our mission: to keep our culture vibrant, make it accessible to all, and ensure the freedom we enjoy today becomes the foundation for the artistic dreams of tomorrow - in Bahrain, and beyond.
Gulf Weekly
5 days ago
- Gulf Weekly
Sip on a sonnet
Bahrain-based author and wordsmith Nivedita Roy has released her latest book of poems, exploring diverse themes inspired by injustice, war, women's issues and more, writes Melissa Nazareth. Bringing alive the Indian expatriate's 'scribbles', Recipe for a Poet's Broth, is a collection of 65 poems across seven sections, spanning introspections, fond memories and more. 'I made a short trip to the Swiss Alps in April this year and as I sat admiring the joys of nature, myriad thoughts came to mind. Pouring them on paper was a cathartic experience,' the 54-year-old told GulfWeekly, explaining the creative process behind her 'labour of love'. 'Once the compilation was sorted, I shared the manuscript with my editor, Ritu Bhatnagar, who is based in Bengaluru; this is our sixth project together. 'I requested Avantika Vijay Singh to write the Afterword. She is a poet and editor and has authored three books. 'Canada-based writer Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca, daughter of the famous poet Nissim Ezekiel, wrote a note for me in the book as well, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all,' the Al Raja School teacher added. Speaking of the book's name, the Adliya resident explained that it was sparked by a NaPoWriMo 2025 prompt – a month-long undertaking by poets around the world to pen down 30 creations in 30 days, based on a daily prompt. Many of the poems featured in the book were written during NaPoWriMo last year and some others are older. Nivedita, who has called Bahrain home for more than two decades, draws inspiration for a lot of her work from the kingdom. 'I am so proud to be part of this beautiful island. One of the poems in the section Poetic Forms was written during the creative writing session of the Bahrain Writers' Circle; Sunset was inspired by the mesmerising sunset at Karbabad beach; A cache of lessons, a multitude of teachers encapsulates my experiences as a teacher in Bahrain and A bustling nest to an empty nest has references to my life here after my children left,' she said. Dreams of Gaza has been translated into Arabic for an international anthology entitled Heaven's Paradise. An excerpt from the poem reads: 'Dreams of a warm hearth with kin breathing A posse to play marbles or just a cheerful race… The childish blabber was drowned in chaos.'
