THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
JAGATSINGHPUR,
FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Jagatsinghpur,
Odisha’s most literate district and the sacred birthplace of Adikabi Sarala
Das, once again lived up to its rich cultural legacy as Jagatsinghpur Heritage
Walks (JHW) celebrated its first anniversary in a deeply meaningful and novel
way. Instead of conventional commemorations, the organisers chose to honour
individuals and families who embody the spirit of “living heritage” and have
silently dedicated their lives to preserving culture, faith, art and humanity
across generations.
The
most moving moment of the evening was the felicitation of 76-year-old Sagarbala
Patnaik, fondly known as “Basanti Apa”. A daughter of Jagatsinghpur and a
celebrated artiste of the renowned Annapurna Rangamanch in Cuttack during the
1960s, she has acted in hundreds of plays and films such as Sesha Sravan, Mana Akash and Samay Bada
Balaban. Though age and hardship have left her frail, her indomitable
spirit continues to inspire. Running a modest tea stall today, she supports
herself and her accident-stricken son, standing tall as a symbol of sacrifice,
resilience and dignity.
Rooted
in Jagatsinghpur’s deep spiritual connection with Maa Sarala, Mihir Nana and
his team were honoured for taking the sacred “Ghanta Patua” dance tradition
beyond Odisha and even to foreign shores. Their live performance infused the
event with divine energy and left the audience soaked in spiritual bliss.
In
a powerful message of communal harmony, JHW felicitated Shyam Chacha, a Muslim
devotee of Lord Jagannath revered as a present-day Salabega, and Seikh Sahil
Mohammad, an ardent Odissi dancer. Mohammad’s graceful rendition of
“Mangalacharan” earned thunderous applause and highlighted how art transcends
faith.
The
honours extended to several other guardians of tradition, including Shishir
Kumar Panda of Kala Sanskruti Sangh, who has spent over five decades nurturing
ancient art forms, and Hemant Kumar Raut for preserving the folk dance “Ghoda
Nacha” in the modern era. Priests Subash Panda and Babaji Panda were recognised
for sustaining spiritual traditions at historic temples in Kundeswar and
Sathalpur villages, while Shiva Prasad Panda and Shankar Prasad Panda were
honoured for safeguarding ancient sculptures at the Ishaneshwar Temple in
Kostimallikapur.
Families
who turned chance discoveries into acts of devotion were also celebrated. The
Sahu family of Lunahar village built a temple for an ancient Nrusimha deity
found in their pond, while the Sethi family of Bhatpada Nandol constructed a
shrine for a Madhava Vishnu idol unearthed during house construction. The
Handloom Society of Badabag village was honoured for generations of weaving
excellence, and young snake rescuer Kundan Kumar Paswan was recognised for his
tireless conservation work across the district.
Adding
a youthful touch, students were awarded for excellence in drawing and general
knowledge competitions, while the occasion also marked the unveiling of JHW’s
annual magazine Aitihya Banikshetra
by eminent educationists and cultural figures. Coordinated by convener Srikant
Kumar Singh, founder member Biswaranjan Dehury and dedicated volunteers, the
celebration stood as a heartfelt tribute to Jagatsinghpur’s living legacy — where
heritage is not just remembered, but lived every day.
