Bhubaneswar: State govt will observe Odia Pakhya across the state from April 1 to 14, marking the Odia New Year, with a renewed focus on grassroots participation and youth engagement. A preparatory meeting to the effect was held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Odia language, literature and culture minister Suryabanshi Suraj. Reviewing the roadmap for this year’s celebrations, the minister said Odia Pakhya would be organised on a larger scale, building on the success of its first-ever statewide observance last year. Emphasis was placed on taking the programmes to the block and village levels and ensuring active participation of the general public.
During the fortnight-long observance, various state govt departments will organise a wide range of activities, including Odisha Day celebrations, Khadi Chhuan Day, Traditional Attire Day, Folk Art Day, Traditional Food Day, Cleanliness Day, blood donation camps and Odia nameplate campaigns. Other planned initiatives include heritage mass runs, youth writers’ conferences, Odia Pakhya quiz competitions and discussion sessions on eminent Odia personalities. The govt also plans to design a dedicated logo for Odia Pakhya and launch a separate website for the event. Participants in the Odia Pakhya Quiz Competition will be issued digital certificates. Special efforts will be made to involve non-resident Odias, while schools, colleges and universities will be encouraged to ensure active participation of students and youth.Addressing the meeting, the culture minister said the objective of Odia Pakhya is to reconnect people with Odia traditions and heritage, while promoting the Odia language and literature at a broader level. He stressed that coordinated efforts among departments would be key to the smooth implementation of programmes from the block level to the state level.
