Odisha Foundation Day – 1st April Odisha Foundation Day, also known as Utkala Divasa, is observed on 1st April every year. It is celebrated to commemorate the formation of Odisha state on 1st April 1936. The day was originally celebrated as Utkala Dibasa or Odisha Dibasa. In the year 2011, Odisha Dibasa was renamed as Odisha Foundation Day and it became a public holiday. On this day, various cultural programmes are organized by the state government. The day starts with a 21 gun salute and the national flag is hoisted at the Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. The Chief Minister of Odisha pays tribute to the great personalities of Odisha. He also addresses the state and talks about the development programmes of the government. A grand cultural programme is organized at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Different types of folk dances, songs and plays are performed by the artists from all over the state. The day is also celebrated in schools and colleges. Students participate in different cultural programmes. They also perform street plays to create awareness about the importance of the day. The day is also celebrated by the people of Odisha living in other parts of the country. They organise cultural programmes and pay tribute to the great personalities of Odisha.
Odisha Foundation Day Quotes
1st April Odisha Foundation Day, also known as Odisha Day or Utkal Diwas, is observed on 1st April every year by people of Odisha. On this day, Odisha was officially declared as a state on 1st April 1936. It is a public holiday in the state of Odisha. History Odisha, earlier known as Utkala Kingdom, was an independent kingdom located in the eastern coast of India. It was ruled by different dynasties such as Ganga Dynasty, Soma Dynasty, Shailodbhava Dynasty, Eastern Ganga Dynasty, Gajapati Dynasty, Bhoi Dynasty and finally, Maratha Dynasty. In the 18th century, the Maratha Empire started expanding eastward and in 1751, Odisha was brought under their control. However, after the defeat of Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Jafar, annexed Odisha to his domain. In 1765, the Hindu ruler of Khurda, Mukunda Deva, was killed by the soldiers of Bengal Nawab. Odisha remained under the rule of Bengal Nawab until the British East India Company annexed Odisha in 1803. The French were also ruled over Odisha from 1759 to 1763. After the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the British East India Company was dissolved and India became a colony of British. Odisha was merged with the province of Bengal in 1858 and became a part of the Bengal Presidency. In 1912, Odisha province was separated from Bengal and it was made a standalone province with Cuttack as its capital. In 1935, Odisha was merged with Orissa Province and again in 1936, it was separated and became a standalone province. On 1st April 1936, Odisha was officially declared as a state. Celebrations Odisha Foundation Day is celebrated throughout the state with great enthusiasm and joy. Various events and functions are organized by the government and non–government organizations to mark the occasion. On this day, the Chief Minister of Odisha hoists the national flag and pays tribute to the freedom fighters of Odisha. A parade is also held in the capital city of Bhubaneshwar. People also exchange Odia New Year wishes on this day as Odia New Year is celebrated on the same day.
