Social Empowerment

We have started promoting the Odia language and culture in the border area between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Celebrating Raja Sankranti was a part of our mission. When you want to teach a community, cultural ceremonies are the best way. So, we decided to celebrate cultural festivals in our adopted border villages. Raja is the festival we planned to celebrate there because all the villagers can participate. Children, women, and men can enjoy this festival together.

They didn’t know the authentic way to prepare PODA PITHA, which is made in Odisha during this time. We taught them how to make it, and together we all enjoyed the tasty poda pitha. Children presented dances to Odia songs, and a special DOLI, or swing, was prepared and decorated with leaves and flowers.

The ADM of Rayagada, Sri Somnath Pradhan, the CSR head of JK Paper Mill, Sri Harihar Khamari, and many other renowned people from the area joined to encourage the community and Ankur Foundation. These three days of outstanding programs created enthusiasm among the villagers, and we successfully won the hearts of the villagers to start teaching Odia.