Bhubaneswar (OdishaLIVE Bureau):  The 50th edition (week) of Patha Utsav on Sunday, 30 April 2017, was a memorable event for the citizens of Bhubaneswar who witnessed it on ground. It went off with the golden jubilee celebratory cake cutting amidst huge enthusiasm by the city-folks from all walks of life.

The event was attended by Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister, Tourism and Culture; Priyadarshi Mishra, MLA, Bhubaneswar (North) and BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena along with the officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL).

Painting - 50th Patha Utsav Bhubaneswar - OdishaLIVE

A city-based craft organisation put up a canvas wall to paint the memories of Patha Utsav live on Janpath. The memory wall depicted the various elements of the street fest and how it had grown richer with each passing week after it came into existence as Raahgiri, way back in 2016. The day also saw polythene free green Bhubaneswar campaign by the students of the Odisha Skating Academy.

Odisha Skating Academy - 50th Patha Utsav Bhubaneswar - OdishaLIVE

The event was packed with activities like loads of musicals with modern, classical and folk dance flavours adding variety to the celebration. A special tribute was paid to the martyrs of the nation with posters and painting. A lot of youngsters were present giving a healthy sign that the new generation is getting outdoors in the morning to witness the city extravaganza. Also, people from among the crowd were invited to the stage to showcase their talent.

A special campaign to make people conscious about a green and clean Bhubaneswar was an added bonus to the activities of the event.

Raahgiri is Odisha’s first constant car-free citizen’s initiative that began in Janpath, Bhubaneswar on January 17, 2016, with an aim to turn the Temple City into a sustainable city with elements like road safety, physical activities and stress-free life with art space on display, every Sunday.

People - 50th Patha Utsav Bhubaneswar - OdishaLIVE

Eminent personalities, artists, performers like Baroness Julia Neuberger, Member of the British House of Lords, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ruturaj Mohanty, Krishna Beura, Prince Dance Group, Barnali Hota and international dance groups from Europe and Japan have enriched Patha Utsav with their august presence in the past.

From present-day themes like Army Day, Children’s Day, Women’s Day, Rose Day, World Lupus Day to awareness drives on Anti-Corruption by State Vigilance, recently, have marked the occasions through which, the Citizen Connect activities have become more and more participatory.

Renamed as Patha Utsav during the current season, the weekly street festival has also become a precursor for ideas to take shape and there were commendable initiatives combating pollution and improving public health and making a Swachha Bharat.

Also, watch the video report by OdishaLIVE on 3rd. Raahgiri at Bhubaneswar:

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