Bhubaneswar, Feb. 21: Youths today utilised the platform of Raahgiri to urge people to promote their mother tongue.
With the day coinciding with International Mother Language Day, a number of activities were conducted at the sixth edition of the event.
The team of 'Art ya Craft' created picture frames with Odia words written on it. The concept attracted a number of youngsters who took pictures with the frames. Another group of youths read out portions of Odia classics.
"Despite Odia receiving the classical language status, there is a sheer lack of connect with the language. So, the initiative taken up by the youth groups to promote the language was nice," said Anupam Subhadarshan, a social worker.
Despite the mercury level rising, the entire route from Ram Mandir Square to Master Canteen Square was chock-a-block with around 50,000 people taking part in various activities held at the event.
The newly dedicated pet zone also attracted many who turned up to know how to take care of the canine friends, especially during the summer.
Wildies, a group of young volunteers promoting conservation of birds, set up a kiosk to promote distribution of water for the winged visitors during the ensuing summer months. They also provided a model for the same.
The two stages set on the two extreme ends of the street provided a platform to the youth to showcase their skills. What caught the attention of the people today was a performance by special secretary of the state home department, Lalit Das, who played melodious tunes on a saxophone and entertained the crowd.
Apart from policemen, a number of youth volunteers from Bharat Scouts and Guides and Youth for Seva engaged themselves in crowd management.
The initiative of community cleaning that was initiated last Sunday also continued this week. After the event concluded, citizens cleaned up the venue.
The prizes for the different citizens' engagement programmes conducted under the Smart City Citizens' Connect was distributed today in the presence of housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singh Deo, industries and school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra and tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda.
The demand for more space, however, continued. Rajesh Mohanty, a city-based filmmaker, said: "I feel bad for the cyclists and skaters who have no other option but to adjust in the small space. If this continues, the footfall will decrease."
Additional commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority Bhabani Chayani said: "Many participants have suggested to expand the venue along the Janpath up to Rupali Square. We are in the process of examining the prospects. A decision will be taken shortly.''
