THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
MARCH 30, 2026
The Government of
Odisha is set to celebrate Odia Pakhya from April 1 to April 14 across the
state, ushering in a vibrant fortnight of cultural pride from Odisha Day to the
Odia New Year. The 14-day cultural initiative seeks to reconnect people with
Odisha’s rich heritage, traditions, language and way of life through a diverse
series of thematic programmes.
The announcement was
made by Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj during a press conference in
Bhubaneswar. He stated that the festival, first introduced in 2025, will be
celebrated with greater grandeur this year across the state.
Highlighting the
significance of the festival, the Minister said Odia Pakhya is not merely a
government programme but a collective effort to celebrate Odia language,
literature, food, traditions, attire and lifestyle.
The celebrations will
commence on April 1 with the observance of Odisha Divas, organised by the
Information and Public Relations Department. On April 2, “Khadi Chuan Day” will
be celebrated by the School and Mass Education Department for children
enrolling in pre-primary and Class I. April 3 will be observed as “Ama Poshak
Ama Parichaya Day”, promoting traditional attire, under the Handloom, Textiles
and Handicrafts Department.
On April 4, a
padayatra titled “Odia Nameplate Campaign” will be organised by Odisha Labour
Department to encourage the use of Odia language in signboards. A “Heritage
Run” will be conducted on April 5 near historical sites across the state by the
Sports & Youth Services and Higher Education Department to promote heritage
awareness along with the Fit India–Fit Odisha initiative.
A statewide
“Cleanliness Drive” will be organised on April 6 across temples and public
places, led by Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water and Housing & Urban
Development Department. April 7 will mark “Shishu Katha Divas”, celebrated by
the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department to promote storytelling
and folk tales among children.
A “Blood Donation
Drive” will be organised on April 8 by the Health & Family Welfare and
Higher Education Department. On April 9, “Aasa Bahitie Kiniba Abhiyan” (Let’s
Buy a Book Campaign) will encourage reading habits among youth. April 10 will
observe “Lokakala Paain Dinatie”, dedicated to promoting folk arts and
honouring artists.
An “Amrutapidhi
Samaroh” will be organised on April 11 by the School and Mass Education, Higher
Education and Skill Development and Technical Education Department to foster
creativity among children, adolescents and youth. On April 12, the “Bandaneeya
Baraputra” programme will highlight the ideals and lives of eminent
personalities of Odisha to inspire the younger generation.
On April 13, “Ama
Ruchi Ama Khadya Divas” will celebrate traditional and local cuisine, organised
by Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Housing and Urban Development and Tourism
Department. The celebrations will conclude on April 14 with the grand
observance of the Odia New Year across the state.
To ensure wider public participation, the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department has launched a dedicated website, Odiapakhya.com, along with a mobile app, enabling citizens to upload selfies, reels and creative content related to Odia culture, participate in online quiz competitions and download digital certificates.
Minister Suraj urged all citizens, institutions and youth organisations to actively participate in Odia Pakhya 2026. “This is the time to reconnect with our roots and proudly showcase our identity. Let us come together and celebrate our language and culture with pride,” Minister added.
