Odisha celebrates Utkal Divas with pride and enthusiasm; Odia Paksha from April 1 to 14

Utkal Divas is being celebrated across the State on Tuesday with great pride and enthusiasm. The day marks the formation of a separate Odisha province on April 1, 1936, due to the relentless efforts of many visionary leaders. 

A series of programs is being organized throughout the State to commemorate this historic occasion. A state-level celebration is being organised at Satyabhamapur in Cuttack’s Salipur. 

Struggles and Contributions of Eminent Leaders

During the 19th century, the expansion of Western education and the printing press led to a decline in the Odia language and culture. Conspiracies were made to merge Odisha with Bengal. Telugu-speaking rulers also attempted to dominate southern Odisha. 

In response, a movement began to unify Odia-speaking regions, leading to the formation of the Utkal Sammilani in 1903. Under the leadership of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, along with contributions from leaders like Fakir Mohan Senapati, Maharaja Sri Ramchandra Bhanjdeo, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Radha Nath Ray, and Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, the movement gained momentum. After nearly five centuries of being without a defined geographical identity, Odisha was finally established as a separate province in 1936.

First-ever Odia Paksha from April 1 to 14

For the first time, the Odisha government has declared a two-week celebration, "Odia Paksha", from April 1 to April 14, under the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. The Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture is organizing the event to promote Odia heritage.

Schedule of Odia Paksha Events

April 2: Traditional "Khadi Chhuaan" ceremony
April 3: "Ama Poshak Ama Parichaya" - promotion of traditional attire
April 4: Campaign for Odia signboards in government offices and businesses
April 5: Heritage Marathon by the Department of Sports and Youth Services
April 6: Cleanliness drive at historical sites
April 7: Distribution of Odia language learning materials
April 8: Blood donation camp
April 9: "Buy an Odia Book" campaign
April 10: Celebration of folk art
April 11: Young Writers' Day
April 12: Discussion on Odisha’s great leaders, organized by Odisha Sahitya Akademi
April 13: Promotion of traditional Odia cuisine
April 14: Celebration of Odia New Year

Looking Ahead to Odisha’s Centennial

As Odisha moves towards celebrating the 100th anniversary of its statehood in 2036, the government aims to make this annual celebration a guiding force for preserving the rich Odia heritage. Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj emphasized that Odia Paksha would play a crucial role in strengthening linguistic and cultural pride among the people.
The celebrations reflect Odisha’s glorious history and its unwavering spirit in preserving its language, culture, and identity.