Prez, PM Extend Greetings to Odisha on the state’s foundation day

Bhubaneswar, Apr 1 : President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday extended warm greetings to the people of Odisha on the occasion of Utkal Divas, the state’s foundation day.

President Murmu, in her message on X, highlighted Odisha’s rich cultural heritage and its contributions across various fields. She commended the people of the state for their perseverance in progress while preserving Odisha’s glorious traditions. Recalling the state’s role in India’s freedom struggle, she prayed to Mahaprabhu Jagannath for Odisha’s peace and prosperity.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his best wishes, stating that Utkal Divas is a fitting tribute to Odisha’s glorious culture. “India takes pride in Odisha’s history, literature, and music. The hardworking people of Odisha have excelled in diverse fields,” Modi said. He further emphasized the collaborative efforts of the central and state governments in accelerating Odisha’s development over the past year.

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Home Minister Amit Shah echoed similar sentiments, calling Odisha a state endowed with immense natural resources and cultural heritage. He referred to Odisha as a ‘jewel in Bharat’s pride’ and expressed confidence in its journey towards becoming a major growth engine for the country.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, while paying tribute to Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das near the Raj Bhawan, announced that Odisha would observe ‘Odia Paksha’ from April 1 to April 14, culminating in the Odia New Year. “May these 14 days inspire self-respect, culture, tradition, and unity among Odias,” he remarked. He urged people to embrace their Odia identity in daily life and honor the great personalities who contributed to Odisha’s formation.

April 1 is celebrated as Utkal Divas to mark the creation of Odisha as a separate province on April 1, 1936. The state was carved out of the Bihar and Odisha province and included the undivided Koraput and Ganjam districts from the Madras Presidency, making it the first Indian state formed on a linguistic basis under British rule.