As part of the observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada, honoring the 150th Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar organized a Tribal Farmers’ engagement on the theme “Culture & Heritage” on 06.11.2025 in village: Kumharput, Koraput district of Odisha. The program designed to create responsiveness about the diverse tribal cultural expressions, traditional knowledge, and the importance of digitally preserving indigenous heritage for future generations. A total of 45 male and 61 female participants from the village actively took part in the event. The program was conducted in collaboration with “Pragati”, a local NGO, which played a key role in mobilizing community members and coordinating the program. The resource persons highlighted various aspects of tribal art, folklore, music, dance, attire and festivals, most important being “Parab”, the Koraput district rich heritage festival. All these emphasized the role as living symbols of tribal identity and unity. Participants were sensitized about the need to safeguard cultural heritage and were encouraged to adopt digital tools for preserving them. The program also discussed opportunities for livelihood promotion through cultural tourism and creative industries, linking cultural preservation with sustainable rural development. The event concluded with a colourful cultural performance by tribal women of the village, followed by a pledge to preserve and promote tribal heritage through collective community efforts. Participants expressed appreciation for the initiative taken by ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar. Some of the action and activity photographs of Day-6 (06.11.2025) are presented below.
