A thousand people gather in Maidenhead for celebration of Odisha culture

A popular convention promoting the culture of Odisha was held in Maidenhead this year – with more than 1,000 guests attending.

Odisha is a state in India, and the Odisha Society of the United Kingdom (OSUK) runs a convention celebrating its heritage and community spirit somewhere in the UK every year.

This convention gives Odia people settled in the UK the chance to meet and celebrate together – and aims to connect people with their roots and inspire pride in the community.

It also promotes local Odia talent and businesses, showcases Odia performers, facilitates networking and provides opportunities for Odia youth.

OSUK held its 46th annual convention at Furze Platt school on August 23-24 this year.

The two-day event – attended by around 1,000 people – featured a full showcase of art, history, literature, music, dance, fashion and cuisine.

The convention began with the lighting of ceremonial lamps before idols of Mahaprabhu Jagannath and Maa Samalei.

The chief guest was Virender Sharma, a British Indian politician who has served as an MP.

There was also Ajay Thakur from the High Commission of India; Surya Rath, chairman of the Suvadra Art Gallery; Loknath Mishra, former MD of the ICICI Bank; and renowned sculptor Adwaita Garnayak, who has a Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award.

Honoured guests from Maidenhead included the Mayor of RBWM, Cllr Mandy Brar, and St Mary’s ward councillor Cllr Gurch Singh.

Awards were presented to more than 30 people for community service, and both children’s academic and adults’ academic achievements.

Some outstanding achievers included Rekha Senapati for her contribution to the well-being of Odia community, and Sushmita Rajhansa for establishing the Jagannath temple in Bath.

There was also a ‘colourful cultural extravaganza’ of performances, featuring ‘comedy king’ Papu Pom Pom and an ‘electrifying’ dance from Ollywood (Odia cinema) hero Debasis Patra.

Attendees also enjoyed Sambalpuri (traditional folk dance) and bhajans (devotional songs), while star actor Kuna Tripathy offered a narration of Shiva Stotra, a Sanskrit religious hymn.

Adding to the excitement was an antakshari contest – a competitive take on a popular musical game.

The programme also included painting and sports competitions, plus interactive workshops, and there was a fashion parade by the celebrated brand Ramuli Creations.

Traditional Odia food was served by Potl Indian Market Kitchen, including macha besara – a classic Odia fish curry – and rasogolla, a famous sweet linked to Odisha’s traditions.

The Mayor, Cllr Mandy Brar, said it was a pleasure to see the convention come to Maidenhead this year.

“It was a brilliant event – really well-attended, well-organised and professionally done. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said.

“It was very welcoming and I’d like to thank [the organisers] for inviting us.”

Cllr Gurch Singh said: “It was a real privilege to join the Odisha Society UK annual convention in Maidenhead.

“What really stood out was seeing the younger generation performing with such pride while elders shared their traditions.

“It showed once again how Maidenhead is becoming a hub for cultural events, where communities feel welcome and proud to share who they are.”