Partha Roy, Kolkata: “Biswamaya Sri Jagannath ” a multi-lingual symposium organised to celebrate Jagannath Sanskriti by Bharatiya Bhasa Parishad, Neelachakra, West Bengal Branch and Sri Jagannath Sahitya Parishad in Kolkata on 12th May 2024. Bhagwan Sri Jagannath represent the divine unifying spirit of universal brotherhood of mankind transcending all kinds of differences as well as importance of family value.
Jagannath Sanskriti represent rich unifying , solidarity promoting dynamic and evolving socio-cultural heritage of people of Odia Hindu community in Odisha and around the world. Jagannath culture spreads the message of Basudhaiba Ktumbakam (world is one family)
The symposium was inaugurated by Sri Srinjoy Bose, Editor of Bengali daily ‘Sanvad Pratidin’. Eminent Odia researcher Professor Krushna Chandra Bhuyan, Sri Ashish Jhunjhunwala, Smt Bimala Poddar were guests of honour in the inaugural session which was chaired by eminent Hindi writer Dr. Shambhunath Director of Bharatiya Bhasa Parishad . The discussion was held in two sessions, the first one on ‘Sri Jagannath and literature’ addressed by Sri Krupasindhu Mishra, an eminent speaker and retired Director of Information & Broadcasting, Govt of Odisha and Dr. Chakradhar Pradhan, Head of Hindi Dept, Central University Koraput and the second one on ‘Sri Jagannath and world culture’ which was addressed by eminent scholar Dr. Sk.Maqbool Islam and Member of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Sri Badri Mishra.
Inaugurating the symposium, Sri Srinjoy Bose said that the philosophy of SriJagannath is a spontaneous flow of faith and beliefs from within which directs us towards greater realisation in life. His eternal message of peace and mutual trust has a significant role for the survival of humankind today. Dr KC Bhuyan told that Jagannath culture has spread beyond the borders of Odisha due to his wide acceptability. Dr. Shambhunath highlighted brotherhood and sisterhood as well as family values of cooperation in Jagannath philosophy.
Sri Krupasindhu Mishra highlighted on the place of the Lord in the literature of all ages starting from Vedic age till date with examples of writing from Adi Sankara to Sri Chaitanya, Tulsi Das to Upendra Bhanja, Bhakti shastra to Yoga shastra. Dr Chakradhar Pradhan presented many unknown facts of this culture in Hindi and in tribal literature including unique Jagannath Sanskriti of Sambalpur region .
Sk Maqbool Islam said that Sri Jagannath is the central force of the world. One must feel him inside his mind and soul, as He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Citing many examples of practices and beliefs prevalent in different parts of India and abroad, he emphasised on internal faith for realisation of the Supreme values of Jagannath culture. Shri Badri Mishra in his poetic style opined that complete surrender is the real way to internalize the Lord. Through various poems written by him, he presented Lord jagannath as the basis of Brahma, Rudra, Krishna, Agni, Indra, Baruna and Surya. The programme was coordinated by Shri Laxmi Narayan Mallik who said that the Jagannath culture is the divine melting pot of various religions and cultures, beliefs and faiths that spreads the message of unity and integrity, trust and tolerance, cooperation and coordination for the human kind.
Shri Sushant Kumar Panda, Shri Safalya Kumar Nandi conducted the two sessions. Shri Krutibasa Mohapatra, Shri Sheshdeb Samal, Shri Ghanashyam Sugla, Smt. Amrita Chaturvedi and others contributed to the success of the symposium. The program concluded with dance presentation by students of Shinjan Nrityalaya of Guru Smt Aloka Kanungo who performed Dashavatara and other compositions in Odissi dance form.