Utkal Divas, Odisha State Formation Day, was celebrated in a grand manner with innumerable mega events organised separately by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, top political heavyweight Bijoy Mohapatra and others.
Union Minister Pradhan kick-started his day-long functions in the most symbolic manner on Chandrabhaga sea shore, Konark by administering a pledge to hundreds of youth to build New Odisha at sun rise.
He inaugurated a world class tourist interpretation centre at Konark built by IOCL.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, on his part, inaugurated a bridge – Madhusudan Bridge, connecting Cahata to Nuapata, released a book on leading lights of separate Odisha statehood struggle and attended functions at the BJD party office here.
Bijoy Mohapatra unfurled a flag with colours representing the deities of Jagannath Temple, Puri and called upon the youth not to be carried away by high sounding rhetoric or mega events. “The government, both at the Centre and state need to publish a White Paper on year wise job creation and employment as well as the action plan for future employment of Odia youth,” he said.
The state capital and all government buildings were decorated with colorful lights.