Manamanjari Sahoo
Koraput was a new place I was travelling to. While travelling by train, I came across tunnels which I saw for the first time in my life.

According to prof Anil Gupta the objective of the sodhyatra was to understand the traditional knowledge irrespective of rich and poor.

When sodhyatra started on 9th, we had our breakfast at the hotel. Then the children were dancing in front when we walked to the Ma gangeamata temple. All the prominent leaders present spoke to the gathering. The child journalists were awarded. There was a prize for the women who was expert in harbal medicine, A male person also was recognised for the same, one freedom fighter and a 13 year old farmer were also given prize. We wolked to the Champakenda village where there was a biodiversity competition among the girls of the Champakhenda girls’ high school.

4 gilrs were given prize. When we entered the village, tribal women welcome us by applying turmeric-rice on our forehead in their traditional way. People were recognised for their herbal medicinal knowledge. People of this village dry the surplus cooked rice in the sun to cook again and eat.

We walked to Sergi guda village. Villagres danced with drums and so did we. One person discussed about the medicinal value of the bone and horn of some animals who was recognised but was asked not to kill animals for medicine. We had our lunch in this village and proceeded to Deo Pattangi.

After the traditional welcome Sreeman Pangi was recognised for his knowledge of traditional medicine.

Then we reached to about 1 km distance from Pukali village where the meeting was held. Then we reached to the village where we had our dinner. Prof Anil Gupta spent some time with us. He asked me about what I explain about SHG.

On 10th after our breakfast we reached Maliguda village. There was a competition on food. Ladies from Keonjhar also participated in the competition. There were 64 dishes. “ shgs got the prize while one from Keonjhar received the prize. All other got consolation prizes. Then we proceeded to Gunthaguda village.

On the way, Mr. Ranjan Mahapatra offered water melon and buttermilk to everybody.. Again we received the traditional welcome. Prof Gupta was received with a bouquet which had a good fragrance to which Prof. remarked that it can be used to manufacture perfume. This knowledge will go to a foreign company while we lose the business because of lack of initiative. Here 3 women of over 100 yrs of age were recognised.

Then we reached to Mali Marua village. Amari creeper can be used as a pesticide. Then we saw many cassettes about a lot of innovations around India.

Then we started walking to Renga village. Dhemsa dance was organised in our welcome. We went to the Ashram school.

In the morning on 11th may 2006, we reached to the Maligunja village. People observe penance in the month of Baisakh, Magha and Kartika. People worship Lord Krishna and Tulasi. Women sang Tulasi staba for us. In the village we saw seeds of paddy, buta, mandia, suan, rajma,mung, green gram, black kulthi etc. We walked past three nalas to reach Kundul village.

At Kunduli, food competition was organised and 109 types of dishes were prepared. The food was extremely tasty. Many were recognised. Then we walked to the Gurukul Ashram.

On 12th, we had puri and khiri as breakfast. We from Shristi made the breakfast for all. At Kunduli haat, 2 students did yoga. Then we went to Malimarla. On the way women were distributing Rice, Dal and Mandia khiri. We had them . I learnt that when asaphoetida with bajra paste put in a bundle on the water source reaching to the fields, then there will be no pest in the crop. The collector had come to this meeting.

Then we reached to Turia villge. Where we spent the night.

On 13th, we reached Deomali hill which has the tallest top in Orissa (1672 ft from sea level) from where one can see the view of Jaipur, Koraput and Sunabeda. Then we came back to Turia village where we had our breakfast of Mandia cake and Jamun. One woman from Keonjhar spoke about herbal medicines and was recognised.

On 14th we went to Malidoliamba where there is a dam called Kukudagada Nala. The farmers did it with their efforts which was recognised.
Then we reached the Sunabeda Aeronautics Girls’ high school for the stay at night.

On 15th there was a science exhibition in the school. Then we reached to Sabar srikshetra.

On 16th there was an inauguration of new room at the tribal museum. There was a vedio shooting. All the participants got prizes. There was a meeting.

On 17th we went to visit a local NGO.In the afternoon we came back to Bhubaneswar by train.