Sydney
More than 400 members of the Odia community came together in Sydney to welcome Dussehra and celebrate Phula Baula Beni (PBB 7), ORIOZ’s biennial cultural celebration dedicated to promoting and preserving the Odia language, culture and heritage for future generations.
Now in its seventh edition, Phula Baula Beni was first launched in 2011 and has grown into a significant Odia cultural celebration in Australia. A unique feature of PBB is that the entire cultural program is presented in Odia, providing children and young Australians with an opportunity to experience their language and heritage through music, dance, drama and storytelling.
The event was inaugurated by Ms.Julia Finn MP, Member for Granville, along with Councillor Sameer Pandey, Councillor Immanuel Selvaraj, and ORIOZ President Tapas Senapati.
The distinguished guests were welcomed and felicitated by ORIOZ NSW State Lead Anjali Patra, while the program was coordinated and hosted by Ms. Kamalzwita Pattanaik and Ms.Indira Priyadarshini.
The evening began with a soulful Jagannath Bhajan, followed by a vibrant program of Odia songs, traditional dances and drama.Children as young as four delighted the audience with their performances of “E Phula Kaha Thare” and “Itikili Mitikili Phutigala Kanicha,” choreographed by high school students Muskan Lenka and Trisha Aarya.
The children’s performance of “Odisha Chhuaa,” choreographed by Suhana Roy, and the youth dance “NuaPidhiNuaParichaya,” created by young performer Annika Bahinipati, celebrated Odia language and heritage. The much-anticipated Odia drama, written and directed by Surajit Mishra and Smruti Mohanty, was also a highlight of the evening.
A special attraction was the graceful Odissi performance by renowned Odissi Guru Debashree Das, showcasing Odisha’s rich classical dance tradition. The occasion also marked the release of the special designed ORIOZ Sports T-Shirt by NSW Sports Lead Sandeep Panda.
The presence of Julia Finn MP in a traditional Indian saree was particularly appreciated by the community and added to the spirit of the evening. Ms Finn praised the efforts of ORIOZ and the wider Odia community in promoting Odia language, culture and heritage while contributing to Australia's vibrant multicultural society. She also praised the wonderful performances by the children, highlighting the way the younger generation is embracing and celebrating their heritage. She appreciated how the Odia community has proudly made Australia their home while continuing to keep their cultural roots alive.
The participation of children as young as four, alongside older performers and adults, highlighted the central purpose of PBB — passing the Odia language, traditions and cultural heritage from one generation to the next.
Speaking on the occasion while welcoming the distinguished guests, ORIOZ NSW State Lead Ms Anjali Patra said:“Phula Baula Beni is more than a cultural program. It is about giving our children a connection to their language, their roots and their identity.”
ORIOZ President Tapas Senapati highlighted the wider significance of the celebration and the contribution of the Odia community to Australia's multicultural identity:“When our children perform in Odia on an Australian stage, they are not only preserving our heritage — they are adding Odia culture to the Australian multicultural story.”
