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Odia Heritage Flourishes in Sydney with Cultural Fest
18 Oct
Summary
- Over 400 Odia community members gathered in Sydney.
- The event featured Odia music, dance, drama, and storytelling.
- Children performed in Odia, showcasing cultural preservation.
More than 400 members of the Odia community recently gathered in Sydney for Phula Baula Beni 7, ORIOZ's biennial event. This celebration, launched in 2011, is committed to preserving and promoting Odia language, culture, and heritage among future generations. The entire program was conducted in Odia, offering children and young Australians an immersive experience through music, dance, drama, and storytelling.
Key figures, including MP Julia Finn, inaugurated the event, praising the Odia community's contribution to Australia's multicultural society. The program featured traditional Odia songs, dances, and a drama, with children as young as four delivering performances. Odissi guru Debashree Das also presented a classical dance.
Community leaders emphasized the event's role in connecting children to their language, roots, and identity. They highlighted how these performances preserve heritage while enriching Australia's multicultural tapestry. Children practiced for over eight weekends for their songs and dances, with two high school students choreographing a dance for younger participants. The seventh edition united newly arrived families, Australian-born children, and older community members.
