title: Kalahandi Utsav
text: # Kalahandi Utsav
  
  Kalahandi Utsav (Odia: କଳାହାଣ୍ଡି ଉତ୍ସବ) also called "Kalahandi Utsav Ghumara" is an annual exhibition or festival celebrated along with district administration in Bhawanipatna and Dharamgarh of Kalahandi District in the Indian state of Odisha. Kalahandi Utsav is a platform to encourage, motivate and showcase the art, culture, music, drama, literature, handy crafts of Odisha globally.
  
  ## History
  
  P.K. Jena, an ex-collector of Kalahandi first initiated the Kalahandi Utsav in 1997. Initially it was called Ghumura Mahotsav. Then it was organized at sub-division level at Dharamgarh by ex-sub-collector V. Karthikeya Pandian in 2003.
  
  ## Venue
  
  It is celebrated at Lal Bahadur stadium in Bhawanipatna and Panchayat playground in Dharamgarh. More than 300 stalls appear at both venues.
  
  ## Performances
  
  Hundreds of folk dance troupes and folk singers from different parts of the State and outside perform.
  
  ## Preparation
  
  Mahavir Sanskruti Anusthan,a Cultural organization based in Bhawanipatna trains local performers of Kalahandi district.
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * Folk dancers performing on 15th Kalahandi utsav 2011, Dharamgarh
  * Overview of Lal Bahadur Stadium, Bhawanipatna during Kalahandi Utsav
  * Stage of Utsav
  * Kalahandi Utsav 2019, Bhawanipatna
  