Kandhamal wins state champion title at Mahak-2026 in Bhubaneswar
Puri district secured the runners-up position at the state-level children’s cultural festival organised by the Odisha State Child Protection Society.
Kandhamal district was crowned the State-Level Champion at the Mahak-2026 children’s cultural festival, which concluded today at the Kalinga Stadium Practice Ground in Bhubaneswar, according to Pragativadi.
The festival, organised by the Odisha State Child Protection Society (OSCPS) under the Department of Women and Child Development, saw Puri district finish as the runners-up. Children from Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across Odisha participated in various artistic categories including music, dance, art, and drama.
Chief Guest Babu Singh, the MLA of Ekamra-Bhubaneswar, felicitated the winning teams. Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, attended as the Guest of Honour.
Dr Mrinalini Darswal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development, said that platforms for nurturing children's creativity and talents will always remain open. She encouraged children to showcase their abilities and called on stakeholders to create opportunities for holistic development.
The ceremony included a special felicitation of five former inmates of CCIs who were honoured for their personal and professional accomplishments in different fields. Monisha Banerjee, Director of ICDS and Social Welfare, had delivered the welcome address earlier in the event.