Bhubaneswar: In a significant step to promote Odia identity, the Odisha government has declared a 14-day celebration, ‘Odia Pakhya,’ from April 1 (Odisha Day) to April 14 (Odia New Year and Maha Vishuba Sankranti). This initiative aims to highlight the state’s language, culture, and rich heritage through a series of events and awareness programs.
Announcing the celebration at a press conference, Minister of Odia Language, Literature & Culture Suryabanshi Suraj stated, “For the first time, Odisha will witness a two-week-long ‘Odia Pakhya’ celebration, approved by the Chief Minister. This event is dedicated to strengthening our cultural roots and promoting the Odia language and traditions.”
Statewide Celebration and Key Highlights
The Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture will lead the initiative, collaborating with multiple government departments to ensure a widespread celebration. Programs will be organized at state and district levels, engaging people from all walks of life.
Event Schedule:
- April 1 – Odisha Day (Odisha Dibasa): The day will mark the formation of Odisha as an independent linguistic province, observed at state, district, and sub-district levels in collaboration with the Information & Public Relations Department.
- April 2 – ‘Khadi Chhuan’ & ‘Pravesh Utsav’: This event, led by the School & Mass Education Department and the Women and Child Development Department, will encourage primary school registrations.
- April 3 – ‘Ama Posaka Ama Parichaya’ (Our Clothes, Our Identity): The Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Department will promote traditional Odia attire and handloom industries.
- April 4 – Odia Name Plate Campaign – Awareness Walk: The Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department will conduct a campaign promoting the use of Odia nameplates in shops and marketplaces.
- April 5 – Heritage Race: Organized by the Sports & Youth Services Department, this unique race will celebrate Odisha’s heritage.
- April 6 – Cleanliness Campaign at Temples and Heritage Sites: The Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, along with the Tourism, Panchayati Raj, and Housing & Urban Development Departments, will conduct a state-wide cleanliness drive at temples and heritage sites.
- April 7 – ‘Barnabodha Banton – Barnabodha Utsav’: This event will honor ‘Barnabodha’ by Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao, the first Odia-language primer.
- April 8 – Blood Donation Campaign: Organized by the Red Cross, Health & Family Welfare Department, and Higher Education Department.
- April 9 – ‘Let’s Buy a Book’ Campaign: A day dedicated to encouraging book purchases and promoting Odia literature.
- April 10 – Folk Art Day – Honoring Senior Artists: Focused on preserving and promoting Odisha’s folk arts, organized in collaboration with the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department.
- April 11 – Young Writers’ Conference: A platform for young literary talents, arranged by the Odisha Sahitya Akademi.
- April 12 – Discussion on Odisha’s ‘Bara Putras’: A discourse on Odisha’s great personalities, organized by the District Administration.
- April 13 – ‘Traditional Food Cultivation Campaign’: A festival celebrating Odisha’s culinary traditions with the theme ‘Our Taste, Our Food.’
- April 14 – Odisha New Year (Odia Naba Barsha): The grand finale of ‘Odia Pakhya,’ marked by traditional festivities and cultural programs.
Government’s Commitment to Cultural Promotion
A preparatory meeting, chaired by Minister Suraj, was attended by secretaries from various departments and district collectors via virtual conferencing. The Minister emphasized the importance of public participation and seamless execution of the planned events.
“Odia Pakhya is a unique opportunity for every Odia to reconnect with their roots. We urge all stakeholders to actively contribute to making this a grand success,” he added.
With Odisha gearing up for these celebrations, the government aims to reinforce the importance of preserving and promoting the Odia language and culture.
