Children from care institutions across Odisha are taking part in MAHAK, a state-level arts programme that opened at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on November 3. The gathering is part of a five-day festival running until November 7.
Organised by the Odisha State Child Protection Society under the Women and Child Development Department, the programme includes dance, music, painting, debate and quiz competitions. Prameya’s report from the opening says the first two days are devoted to MAHAK’s creative and cultural activities, followed by three days of sports under UTSAH.
According to Ommcom News, participants include children who placed highly in district-level festivals across all 30 districts. The state-level gathering gives them an opportunity to present their work and skills alongside peers from other areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the programme at the stadium’s practice ground. Recognition for the MAHAK competition winners is scheduled for November 4. The published reports do not list general visitor entry arrangements or a public timetable for individual competitions.
Illustrative archive photograph of colouring pencils, February 2015, not a photograph of the MAHAK festival. Photo: William Warby, CC BY 2.0. Resized; display may be cropped.
