Odissi dancers perform at the Utkal Divas celebrations in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, April 1: The state today celebrated its birthday in a grand manner. From cultural events to lavish decorations, the occasion was celebrated across the state.

Bhubaneswar was seen glittering with colourful patterns of lights that were decorated on all government buildings. The state-level Utkal Divas celebrations was organised by the government at Jayadev Bhavan in the evening. Governor S.C. Jamir wished all people of the state on the occasion of Odisha Divas.

Wishes from the President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari were also read out at the event. A series of cultural programmes were also staged, which included Odissi dance and various folk dances and music.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and other politicians, however, stayed away from the official celebrations owing to the code of conduct for the ensuing polls.

There were celebrations across the city at educational institutes and in several areas such as AG Colony.

United for Social Interest, a local group, hosted an awareness campaign through art. A huge canvas titled “pledge wall” was filled with wall paintings by youngsters as well as renowned sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra.

In Cuttack, too, various old institutions that played an important role during the movement that demanded a separate province called Odisha, were decorated.

“Madhusudan Das was the pioneer in the movement that demanded Odisha’s own identity as a separate province. We are proud to be studying at the Shailabala Women’s College, which was once his house,” said Preeti Rout, an undergraduate student at the college.

The Shailabala Women’s College celebrated Odisha Divas with various cultural events.

Utkal Divas was also observed at various schools in Rourkela where students took part in fancy dress contests and enacted plays. Berhampur, from where many luminaries had carried forward the struggle for the separate Odisha province, also celebrated the occasion with cultural events.