Odisha celebrates Utkal Divas

Bhubaneswar, April 1: Odia communities across the country and abroad on Friday celebrated Utkal Divas to mark the formation of Odisha state on linguistic basis in 1936.

The foundation day of Odisha is celebrated across the state on April 1 every year after it was carved out of the combined Bengal-Bihar-Orissa province in 1936.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Odisha celebrating 81st Utkal Divas (Odisha Day).

"On Utkal Diwas, I convey my greetings to the kind & industrious people of Odisha & hope that Odisha's development will attain new heights," Modi tweeted.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Congress president Prasad Harichandan and other leaders paid tributes separately to the late leaders who sacrificed their lives for formation of a separate state on linguistic basis.

Besides, people from different walks of life paid tributes to the legends and renowned personalities like Utkala Gaurav Madhusudan Das, Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja Ramachandra Bhanjadeo, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Raja Baikunthanath Dey, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gangadhar Meher and Gourishankar Ray.

While the state government and different organisations held several programmes, the capital city wore a glittering look with regional fervour.

All major government buildings such as the assembly, secretariat and many others dazzled with colourful lights.

IANS