Delhi govt to celebrate Utkal Divas in grand manner: Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that her government will celebrate the upcoming ‘Utkal Divas’ (Odisha Day) in a grand manner in the national capital.

Utkal Divas, observed annually on April 1, marks the formation of Odisha as a separate province from Bihar and Orissa in 1936, based on linguistic identity.

Extending her greetings to the Odia community in Delhi and beyond, Gupta stated, “This year, the Delhi government will celebrate Odisha Day with great enthusiasm in the national capital.”

Acknowledging the contributions of Odia families in Delhi’s development, she added, “They are an integral part of our city, and I assure them that the Delhi government stands with them, committed to their welfare and progress.”

During her visit to Odisha, Gupta met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday. The Odisha Chief Minister’s Office shared on X, “Delhi CM Rekha Gupta paid a courtesy visit to CM Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan today.”

She also visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, accompanied by Puri MP Sambit Patra and Odisha’s Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandran, offering prayers at the sacred shrine.

Expressing her reverence, Gupta said, “Jai Jagannath! I had the divine darshan of Lord Jagannath at Puri Temple. I prayed for the continued development of Delhi and the nation under the leadership of Modi Ji.”

Reflecting on her visit, she added, “This is my first time visiting Puri Jagannath Dham since assuming office as Chief Minister of Delhi, and I feel blessed to be here on the occasion of Amavasya.”

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Gupta is on a two-day visit to Odisha. On Friday, she paid tribute to veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan on the occasion of his 12th Day ritual in Bhubaneswar.

“Today in Bhubaneswar, I offered floral tributes to former Union Minister Late Debendra Pradhan ji, father of Union Minister @dpradhanbjp, at a memorial gathering. Remembering his invaluable contributions to the country, I prayed for his soul’s peace. Om Shanti,” she wrote on X.

(With inputs from PTI)