Kala Kshetra Launches ‘Village Day’ Campaign, Targets 30,000 Villages Across Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Kala Kshetra, a leading cultural and developmental organisation in Odisha, on Saturday unveiled the poster for its ‘Gaon Dibasa’ (Village Day) campaign at its Kala Kshetra Bhavan in Gandhi Nagar, Uttara, Bhubaneswar.

The organisation aims to celebrate Village Day across all 30 districts, 300 blocks, 30,000 villages and 30 cities in Odisha this year, expanding the reach of its initiative to preserve and promote the state’s rich cultural heritage and rural traditions.

The poster was unveiled by Kala Kshetra president and veteran actor Ashrumochan Mohanty, founder member-secretary Basudev Malabishoi, chief adviser and former Special Secretary Rajendra Patnaik, OAS, and former Additional Secretary of the Home Department Sribhushan Shukla, OAS, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohanty said the organisation, which has been working towards promoting and strengthening Odisha’s art, culture and traditions since January 2021, began its first statewide initiative with the Village Day campaign.
In 2025, under the slogan ‘Ame Paliba Gaon Dibasa – Deepavali Re Prati Barsha’ (Let Us Celebrate Village Day Every Year During Diwali), the campaign was observed on October 21, 22 and 23 across 30 districts, 100 blocks and 300 villages in the state.
“This year, we aim to take the campaign to 30 districts, 300 blocks, 30,000 villages and 30 cities,” Mohanty said. He added that Village Day would also be celebrated in the ‘Kala Kshetra Adarsha Gram’ (model villages) identified by the organisation in every district.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Malabishoi said there was no dedicated Village Day celebration at the international level or across India, despite Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on villages as the soul of the country.
He pointed out that India has around 6.5 lakh villages, while Odisha has approximately 51,000. However, the traditional art forms, culture, folk practices and spirit of brotherhood in rural communities are gradually fading.
“Protecting these traditions is the responsibility and duty of every citizen. Village Day will bring people together and provide a platform to highlight rural art, culture, traditions and development,” he said.
The statewide campaign will be formally launched this year from a Kala Kshetra village in Angul district, the organisation announced.
Among others, Narendra Patasani, president of Kala Kshetra’s Sankirtan Parikrama programme; Narayan Swain, Puri district coordinator and treasurer; Savita Singh, Angul district coordinator; and Basanta Maharana, Delanga block coordinator from Puri district, attended the poster unveiling ceremony.