By Ratnakar Dash
Malkangiri, Oct 22: The process has started for Malyabanta Mahotsav, the annual festival of tribal-dominated Malkangiri district of Odisha.

The block level celebration of the festival was kicked off with collection of holy water from Sitakunda at Bonda Ghati in Maliguda gram panchayat under Khairput block of the district on Tuesday. A large number of Bonda tribal girls, in their traditional attire, danced as the Bonda priest collected the holy water and handed over the same to District Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale.

Jawale was taken to Maliguda in a grand procession where the priest offered Puja to Bonda God Patakhanda Mahaprabhu marking the beginning of Malyabanta Mahotsav-2008.

The district level festival is slated to be celebrated at Malkangiri district headquarter town from November 7 to 9.

Speaking on the occasion, Jawale said the festival not only provides a common platform to the tribal flock to exhibit their hidden talents but also enable them for a better interaction.

Malyabanta is not only cultural festival but provides the people a better platform for maintaining brotherhood, Jawale said.