The Ho Students and Scholars of KISS Deemed to be University, in collaboration with the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), Centre for Sacred Groves, and the Centre for Folklore Studies, organised the celebration of Baa Porob, the sacred Baa festival of the Ho Tribe, on 9th March 2026 at 4:00 PM at KISS Campus 4, Bhubaneswar. The event aimed to celebrate and preserve the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of the Ho community while creating awareness about the importance of indigenous festivals and their deep connection with nature, community values, and cultural identity. The programme was attended by faculty members, students, scholars, and dignitaries of the university.
The celebration began with the traditional worship of the deity, where the students and scholars of the Ho community performed the sacred rituals with devotion and grace. The ceremony reflected the spiritual essence of the festival and showcased the community’s deep-rooted reverence for nature and ancestral traditions. Following the ritual observance, Dr. Rasmita Tripathy, Associate Professor, Department of Odia, School of Comparative Tribal Languages and Literatures and Centre Head of the Centre for Folklore Studies, KISS Deemed to be University, addressed the gathering. In her speech, she elaborated on the cultural and spiritual significance of Baa Porob among the Ho tribe, highlighting how the festival symbolises gratitude towards nature and strengthens the collective identity of the community. Her insightful address helped the audience understand the cultural richness and traditional wisdom embedded in the festival.
As part of the celebration, theme-based competitions such as Essay Writing and Drawing were organised for the students. These competitions encouraged participants to creatively express their understanding of tribal culture, traditions, and the importance of preserving indigenous heritage. The prizes were distributed to the winners in the presence of Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar of KISS Deemed to be University along with the Centre Heads of the collaborating centres along with the Deans and other faculties.
The programme concluded with a vibrant traditional dance performance presented by the students and scholars of the Ho tribe. Dressed in their traditional attire, they gracefully performed their indigenous dance forms, which beautifully reflected the rhythm, harmony, and cultural vitality of the Ho community. The celebration of Baa Porob at KISS Deemed to be University served as an important platform for recognising and preserving tribal cultural heritage. The programme successfully highlighted the richness of Ho traditions and reinforced the institution’s commitment to promoting indigenous knowledge systems, cultural diversity, and community heritage.
