Dikhyaa Mohanty 
From April 1 to April 14, the Odisha government will commemorate “Odia Pakhya-2026” with a number of literary, cultural, and public engagement events around the state in honor of Odisha Day. To finalize plans, Chief Secretary Anu Garg presided over a preliminary meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday. She urged people to contribute images, films, and selfies with the hashtag #OdiaPakhya2026 and instructed authorities to make the programs “extensive and attractive.” She also emphasized public engagement.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture The project is a “cultural renaissance,” according to Rashmita Panda, who urged people to view it as a campaign to arouse pride in Odia identity rather than just a festival. Over the course of 14 days, more than 14 programs will be planned in collaboration with other departments. Odisha Day events in Gopabandhu Das’ birthplace in Suando village, Puri district, will kick off the festivities on April 1. Later that evening, Krushi Shiksha Sadan in Bhubaneswar will host the festivities. New Delhi, as well as other districts and subdivisions, will hold similar celebrations.
According to the schedule, April 2 will mark Khadi Chuan Day with school enrolment drives and “Pravesh Utsav”. On April 3 and 4, the “Ama Poshak Ama Parichaya Day” campaign will promote traditional attire in government institutions along with a selfie contest. A special drive to enforce Odia signboards in commercial establishments will also be undertaken. A Heritage Mass Run on April 5 will focus on conservation of major heritage sites, while April 6 will see cleanliness and beautification drives at temples and heritage locations.
April 7, observed as Shishu Katha Divas, will feature distribution of children’s literature and Odia texts, including works of Jagannath Das, along with storytelling and competitions. Public awareness programmes on government schemes will also be held. Blood donation camps will be organised on April 8, followed by a statewide book-buying campaign “Aasa Bahitie Kiniba Abhiyan” on April 9. Folk art promotion programmes under “Lokakala Paain Dinatie” will be held on April 10.
