Utkal Divas 2024: The foundation day of Odisha, known as Odisha Day or Utkal Divas will be celebrated on Friday, 1st April. The state of Odisha was announced as a separate state in the year 1936, after separating itself from Bengal and Bihar.
India has encountered major milestones and growth in different parts of the country in every aspect. From establishment to development, every region in the country has its own story. For the same appreciation, Odisha Day or Utkal Day is observed every year on the 1st of April.
People also take this auspicious day as Odisha Foundation Day and Vishnu Milan.
Odisha Day: History
The formation of social and cultural organizations in Odisha, Utkal Sammilani led to the foundation of a separate Odisha Province in the country. In Past, present-day Odisha used to form a major portion of ancient Kalinga after it was conquered by Magadha King Ashoka in 261 BC to expand his Mauryan Empire.
Later, the coastal part of Odisha formed part of the Mughal Empire in 1576. After that in 1803, the region came under British control.
After Decades of struggles in the province and a lack of leadership, the new province was established on the 1st of April, 1936.
Odisha Day: Significance
Odisha holds the third position among the Indian states in terms of the proportion of its citizens.
On the day of Utkal Divas, political leaders in the state organize cultural events for its citizens and also prepare colorful Tableau. Shops and residential areas are decorated with colors and flowers, Natives enjoy the various competition organized by the government, by exchanging greetings, singing folk songs, and special functions with their loved ones.
Odisha has imprints of early human civilization as well as many prehistoric tools have been discovered across the region. Orissa has been renamed Odisha by the President of India on November 9th,2010. The Oriya language was also renamed Odia.
