Visually impaired girls celebrate Raja
Berhampur: Several visually impaired girls from a private residential school here celebrated the Raja festival, which began on Saturday.
Dressed in vibrant clothes and their faces adorned with makeup, the girls, aged between 5 and 18, swung on swings, sang, danced and relished sweets like kakara and poda pitha.
The event took place at a large ground near their school.
School secretary, Bhabani Shankar Padhy, said the celebration has become a yearly tradition, made possible with community support. The girls, too, voiced their happiness. "We are very happy to celebrate Raja like everyone else. We feel proud and are no less than anyone," said 12-year-old Ranu Behera. Another student, Sibani Kundu (16), added, "We're thankful to the authorities for the arrangements."
"I thank the organisers for bringing smiles to their faces," said Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar, who joined the celebrations along with Berhampur Municipal Corporation mayor Sanghamitra Dalai, former Berhampur Development Authority chairman Subash Moharana, and other dignitaries.
Raja festivities were also held at Pantha Niwas in Gopalpur where guests were treated to traditional sweets and entertainment.
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