Reconnecting with our roots is the soul of 'Odia Pakhya', says Minister Suryabanshi Suraj as Odisha prepares for grand celebration

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 5, 2026

 “Reconnecting with Odia culture and taking our language, literature and traditions to the world is the soul of Odia Pakhya,” said Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj as the Odisha Government began preparations to celebrate the cultural festival on a much grander scale this year.

Odia Pakhya will be celebrated across the state from April 1, Utkal Divas, to April 14, marking the Odia New Year, under the guidance of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture. A high-level preparatory meeting chaired by the Minister on Thursday laid the roadmap for an inclusive, people-centric celebration reaching from grassroots to state level.

Highlighting last year’s successful debut of Odia Pakhya, Minister Suraj stressed that the focus this year would be on wider public participation, especially among youth, students and the Odia diaspora. He underlined the importance of taking the celebrations beyond urban centres and ensuring vibrant cultural programmes in remote and border regions of Odisha.

A host of thematic events have been planned during the fortnight, including Odisha Day celebrations, Khadi Chhuan Day, Traditional Attire Day, Folk Art Day, Traditional Food Day, Cleanliness Drives, Blood Donation Camps, heritage runs, Odia nameplate campaigns, young writers’ conferences and discussions on legendary sons of the soil.

To strengthen outreach and digital engagement, a dedicated logo and a special website for Odia Fortnight will be launched. An online quiz competition will also be conducted, with digital certificates awarded to all participants. Special efforts will be made to connect Odias living outside the state with the celebrations.

Special emphasis will be laid on involving youth and students from schools, colleges and universities. Programmes highlighting Odia literature and culture will also be organized in the remote and border areas of the state.

 “With coordinated efforts of all government departments, we are committed to executing every programme smoothly from the block level to the state level,” the Minister said, adding that Odia Fortnight aims to revive cultural pride while passing on Odisha’s rich legacy to the younger generation.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Secretary of the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture; Special Secretary Deba Prasad Dash; Secretary of Odisha Sahitya Akademi Dr. Chandrasekhar Hota; and other senior officers.