The SPICMACAY East Zone Convention was held in Silicon Institute of Technology, Patia, Bhubaneswar, from 19^th to 21^st, February, 2010. SPICAMACAY is a non-profit youth movement which is run by volunteers and has a presence in 300 towns and cities of India and many countries like Norway, USA, etc. The event was declared open by the higher secondary education and culture minister, Shri Debi Prasad Mishra. Also present at the inauguration was the founder of this movement, Padmashri Dr Kiran Seth, which he founded more than 30 years back. The convention was blessed by the likes of Shri Raghunath Panigrahi, Shri Prafulla Kar and Smt Ileana Citaristi by their august presence.

The inaugural performance was by Smt Sujata Mahapatra, who mesmerized the spectators with her Odissi dance. The other notable performers were Smt Shamamani Devi (odissi, vocal), Smt Kala Ramnath (violin, hindusthani classical), Ms Masako Ono (odissi dance, classical), Smt Meera Das (odissi dance, classical). Last but not the least was the performance by Padma Shri Ileana Citaristi, who captivated the spectators with her scintillating performance.

The day began with a yoga camp for the participants and volunteers of the convention. It was followed by talks by eminent speakers like Dr Seth, Mr Jatin Das (painter) and Mr Kishore Ghosh (percussion, pakhawaj). A patachitra workshop was also held by Shri Niranjan Tripathi. All these are modules that SPICMACAY would like to promote amongst the youth who are not exposed to the hoary traditions of Orissa and the country as a whole.

However the most invigorating sessions were taken by Dr Kiran Seth, who in his expose tried to show the participants the need to devote some time for the movement and the country’s rich, deep and colourful tradtions. He was ably supported in his efforts by Shri Dhanada Misra, the state co-ordinator of SPICMACAY, Orissa.

Among others, members of SPIC MACAY chapters from KMBB Institute of Engineering and Technology, KIIT University, Synergy Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar, IIT, Bhubaneswar, HDF School of Management, NMIET, JITM, Paralakhemundi.

Shri Debasis Routray, Ph. 9583596844, Email. Spicmacay.orissa@gmail.com