Given the popularity of Chhau dancing in the area, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced plans to construct a Chhau dancing Academy and Cultural Research Centre in the Mayurbhanj district. This statement was given by the chief minister at the Mayurbhanj Utsav opening ceremony at Bhubaneswar’s Utkal Mandap. Majhi honored Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo of Mayurbhanj on the 150th anniversary of his birth and recognized the important contributions the Mayurbhanj royal family made during the British era, including a number of developmental projects, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
“Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo’s progressive vision transformed Mayurbhanj into one of the most advanced districts in the country during the British era. The esteemed SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, a beacon of medical excellence in eastern India, owes its storied legacy to the visionary Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo. The Bhanj royal family of Mayurbhanj contributed significantly to the establishment and functioning of Ravenshaw College. Additionally, the renowned Purnachandra Odia Bhashakosha, compiled by Gopal Chandra Praharaj, was made possible through the efforts of Maharaja Purnna Chandra Bhanj Deo of Mayurbhanj” said Majhi.
He said, “President Droupadi Murmu, the distinguished daughter of the Mayurbhanj district, has served the nation with distinction, elevating the pride and glory of Mayurbhanj and Odisha as a whole.” The district takes pride in being the birthplace of several notable individuals who have greatly enhanced Odisha’s stature, such as poets, artists, leaders, athletes, and educators. The Chief Minister has declared intentions to construct a Chhau Dance Academy and Cultural Research Center in the district in response to the demand from the locals and the popularity of the Chhau dance in Mayurbhanj.