Utkal Divas celebrated with gaiety

Food enthusiasts had a gala time at the Odia food festival organised by Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj as part of the 83rd Utkal Divas celebrations at Sri Jagannath Temple complex, Daspalla Hills, on Sunday.

Various dishes doled out by the members sold like hotcake. The most sought-after dishes were Monda Pitha -- a dough of rice powder filled with coconut sweet, ragullas, chenna kakara, guguni, baigan bajji, dahi vada and alu dum and chenna podda.

The festival was inaugurated by Samaj president J.K. Nayak. The items were sold at cost price. Odisha pan was also most-sought after.

Odisha, which was formed on April 1, 1936 as the first linguistic State is being celebrated every year as Utkal Divas. The day was celebrated with pomp and gaiety. The renovated auditorium at the temple complex was inaugurated on the occasion. Sunil Kumar Mishra, Chief Information Commissioner of Odisha, attended the cultural function as chief guest. In his address, he underlined the need to uphold the rich cultural heritage of Odisha.

Tributes to luminaries

The speakers paid tributes to luminaries from Odisha Madhu Babu, Utkalmani Gopabandhi Das and Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Maharaj of Parlakhemundi.

Samaj secretary P.K. Biswal proposed a vote of thanks.