The Sital Sasthi carnival began in Sambalpur town on Friday night marking the return of ‘baraat’ of Lord Shiva after marriage with Goddess Parvati late on Thursday night.

The homecoming procession is considered one of the longest cultural carnivals of the country, but apathy of the State Government has denied its due place.   

This year, more than 6000 folk artists from across the country  have been invited to participate in the carnival and the  estimated budget of Rs 60 lakhs has been drawn up by Jharuapada, Nandapada, Mudipada, Badbazar and Thakurpada Sital Sasthi Jatra Organising Committees.

The carnival of each organising committee goes in separate route across the town. Tight security arrangement has been made for peaceful celebration while volunteers distributed free cold water, eatables and cold drinks to the visitors.

The carnival will continue till the wee hours of Saturday and after a break will resume till Saturday afternoon. Besides the local folk artists, dance troupes from Punjab, Assam, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh will perform in the carnival.

With overcast condition making the weather pleasant after good spell of rain in last couple of days, the carnival has drawn huge crowd from across the State besides neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Source: The New Indian Express, DT. June 15, 2013.