Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025: Diaspora to get slice of Odia delicacies

The Indian Diaspora will relish the typical Odia delicacies during their stay in Odisha on the occasion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave in the State.

According to sources, the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) guests will get to eat Odisha’s famous dishes, including Dalma, Rasagola, Peetha, Chhenapoda and many more.

In the dynamic city of Bhubaneswar, a significant congregation of the Indian Diaspora has already begun. The three-day conclave at Janata Maidan, emphasising youth involvement, was initiated with speeches by External Affairs Minister (MEA) S. Jaishankar and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

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During today’s events, Minister Jaishankar highlighted India’s advancements towards development, referencing achievements such as India’s vaccine production during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, and the impending Gaganyaan mission.

The MEA Minister also praised transformative schemes like Swachh Bharat (Clean India), affordable housing initiatives, and the ambitious ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh L. Mandaviya was also in attendance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to formally open the conference tomorrow. The PM is to arrive later at night at around 8.00 PM and will address the gathering and deliver a highly anticipated keynote speech tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi celebrated the role of NRIs as cultural ambassadors who have significantly contributed to the nation’s progress. He noted Odisha’s significant growth in the information technology and skill development sectors, alongside the State’s potential in technology, renewable energy, education, and tourism.

The State’s unique heritage, featuring landmarks like the Sun Temple (Black Pagoda) in Konark and Jagannath Temple in Puri, received particular emphasis.

In honour of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, various plenary sessions are set to facilitate dialogues amongst prominent personalities and representatives from over 70 countries. Moreover, cultural programmes will also be organised in the evening.

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Attendees will have the opportunity to tour Odisha, experiencing the attractions in Jajpur, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri, exploring 21 sites across the State via a double-decker bus tour. This initiative aims to strengthen ties with the state of Odisha.

“It’s a great pleasure and a great opportunity for us (NRIs) to participate in the conclave and be here. This is why, I made an appeal to everyone outside India to join the conclave,” an NRI from Bihar and presently residing in Mauritius stated.

“I had previously participated in a PBD (Pravasi Bharatiya Divas) held in Banaras, then again in Indore and this for the third time that I have come to Bhubaneswar. Odisha is a nice place and its people are also good. The city has been so nicely decked up,” another NRI in Mauritius and native of Bihar expressed.