DGP GS Rath lights the ceremonial lamp to mark Utkal Diwas on Friday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, April 1: Remembering the roots on a different land.

That’s what the Oriya community did today on the occasion of the 76th Utkal Diwas organised by the Utkal Association of Jamshedpur to commemorate the separation of Odisha (formerly Orissa) from Bihar on April 1, 1936.

Director general of police Gouri Shankar Rath was the chief guest on the occasion, which is also known as Odisha Foundation Day.

Apart from Rath, state president of BJP Dineshanand Goswami was among the eminent guests. “The formation of a new state gave the Oriya community a special identity. Therefore, we celebrate the occasion not only in Odisha, but also everywhere across the world where Oriyas reside. At present, Jamshedpur has about one lakh Oriyas,” said Tarachand Mohanty, secretary of the Utkal Association.

More than 1,000 members of the association attended in the event which saw a host of cultural programmes. Singer Sushmita Das came from Odisha to perform on the occasion. The members also remembered Madhusudan Das, the man behind the formation of Odisha.

A meeting followed to discuss the current status of Oriya language and ways to preserve it.

Apart from Utkal Association, other city clubs of Oriya community members also celebrated Utkal Diwas. “It is a day when people belonging to the community come together to enjoy, celebrate and socialise,” said Basu Mahapatra, one of the members of Utkal Association.