Odisha Foundation Day 2023: Today, Odisha celebrates the 87th foundation day which is also known as Utkal Divas. In 1936, it was the first state that was formed on a linguistic basis. Earlier, it was part of Bihar. The people of Odisha are known for their simplicity and honesty.
Greetings to the people of Odisha on Utkala Dibasa.
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) April 1, 2023
Best wishes for the progress & prosperity of the State blessed with rich traditional heritage and vibrant culture.@BJP4Odisha
#UtkalaDibasa2023 pic.twitter.com/eRpDxVnbRC
Wishing everyone Happy #UtkalaDibasa #ଉତ୍କଳଦିବସ #BandeUtkalaJanani . My SandArt at Puri beach in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/vDYvwF3gzz
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) April 1, 2023
Heartiest greetings to the wonderful people of Orissa on Utkala Dibasa ! May the rich culture & traditions of this land continue to flourish and it’s people always prosper.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 1, 2023
Greetings to my sisters and brothers of Odisha on Utkala Dibasa. The people of Odisha are known for their simplicity and kindness. Their culture is vibrant and so is their contribution to India’s progress. Praying for Odisha’s continuous progress and prosperity.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 1, 2023
Best wishes on Utkala Dibasa. This is a day to acknowledge the rich role of Odisha, Odia people and culture in the progress of our nation. May the people of Odisha be blessed with good health and prosperity in the times to come.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 1, 2023
We wish the people of Odisha, a happy and warm Utkal Divas!
— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) April 1, 2023
On their Foundation Day, we extend our warm greetings to the people of Odisha, ‘The Land of Lord Jagannath'.
May this beautiful state continue to prosper and progress. pic.twitter.com/6tC711UkOa
Odisha Day: History
Earlier, present-day Odisha was the major portion of ancient Kalinga. It witnessed the Kalinga War that was led by King Ashoka who conquered the region in 260 B.C. Later, the state was invaded and captured by the Mughals till the British took over the administrative powers and divided it into small units in 1803.
Let us tell you that the western and northern districts became a part of the state of Bengal while the coastal region was Bihar and Odisha (earlier Orissa). After three decades of revolution under prominent leaders, the state was separated from Bihar and became a separate province on 1 April 1936.
That time the movement was more intense with the leadership of several leaders including Utkala Gouraba Madhusudan Das, Utkala mani Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Pandita Nilakantha Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Gangadhar Meher, Sir Basudeba Sudhaladeba, Radhanath Ray, Bhubanananda Das, A. P. Patro and many others with the support of the public.
The newly formed Odisha (earlier Orissa) consisted of six districts namely Cuttack, Puri, Baleswar, Sambalpur, Koraput and Ganjam. The capital of the state was Cuttack. The oath of office was taken by Sir John Hubbak and he became the first Governor of Orissa Province.
Odisha Day (Utkal Divas): Celebrations
On this day varieties of firecrackers are lit up in the sky. Fireworks competitions are common. Across the state different cultural programmes are organised. Several indigenous songs are also sung in the events organised by the Government of Odisha. But this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic celebration will be in a low-key manner.
About Odisha
According to the 1991 census, it has a total population of 31,512,070 (3.73 per cent of the total population of India) out of which about 16,237,000 are male and 15,275,070 are female. Earlier the capital was Cuttack and now it is Bhubaneswar. Odisha has 3 Divisions, 30 Districts, 58 Sub-Divisions, 317 Tahasils, and 314 Blocks.
Odisha state is located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. On 1 April 1936, the modern state of Odisha was established at Kanika Palace, Cuttack, as a province in India and consists of Odia speakers.
As discussed above it is the ninth-largest state by area in India and the eleventh-largest by population. The state interior is mountainous and sparsely populated. The highest point of the state is Deomali at 1672 m. Odisha is subject to intense cyclones.
In October 1999, an intense Tropical Cyclone caused severe damage and around 10256 deaths. Odisha state is the home to the Hirakud Dam, near Sambalpur the longest earthen dam in the world.
It also has several popular tourist destinations. Let us tell you that Puri, Konark and Bhubaneshwar are known as the Golden triangle of eastern India. Several places are located in Odisha that is important and has archaeological history including the Jagannath Temple of Puri, the Konark Sun Temple, the Lingaraj Temple, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves Dhaulagiri of Bhubaneshwar, Ashoka's famous Rock Edict at Jaugada near Berhampur city and the Barabati Fort of Cuttack, etc.
Let us have a glimpse at the History of Odisha
If we read history then we will come to know that in world history major turning point took place in Odisha. The Kalinga War, Ashoka's military campaign against Kalinga was one of the bloodiest wars in Mauryan history. Ashoka was compelled to issue two edicts for calling just and benign administration in Kalinga.
Later, Ashoka was instrumental in spreading the teachings and philosophy of Buddhism all over Asia. Southwestern Odisha which is Ativ Land was unconquered by Ashoka. The civilisation around the Tel River put light towards the great civilisation that lives in Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput regions (KBK) in the past. According to the discovered wealth of Tel valley, there were civilised, urbanised and cultured people inhabited this land around 2000 years ago and the capital was Asurgarh.
In fact, Kalahandi along with Koraput and Bastar was part of Kantara as referred to in Ramayana and Mahabharata. This region in the 4th century was known as Indravana from where precious gems and stones were collected in the imperial Maurya history. During the period of Ashoka, a Mauryan emperor the area of Kalahandi with Koraput and Bastar was known as Atavi Land and this land remained unconquered as per Ashokan's record. During the beginning of the Christian era, it was known as Mahavana. Vyaghraraja in 4th Century A.D was the ruler of Mahakantara comprising Kalahandi, undivided Koraput and Bastar region. The capital of Mahakantara was Asurgarh, Hatihumpha Inscription of Emperor Kharvela, Udaygiri Konark Sun Temple built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty is one of the well-known temples in India and is a World Heritage Site.
Therefore, Odisha is a state of archaeological importance and was established on 1 April 1936 as a separate province and separated from Bihar.
Why is the day also known as Utkal Diwas?
The foundation of the cultural and social organisation Utkal Sammilani boosted the independence movement in Odia. This organisation was founded by Utkala Gouraba Madhusudan Das in 1903 to advance the establishment of Odisha as an independent state. To honour the great leader and his contribution, the founding day is also known as Utkal Divas.
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