ITANAGAR, 3 Apr: Utkal Diwas was celebrated by the Arunachal Utkal Sanskrutika Parishad (AUSP) with great enthusiasm and gaiety at the NERIST in Nirjuli on Sunday as 1 April was a holiday.
Utkal or Kalinga (present Odisha) was formed on 1 April, 1936, as a state, much before India gained freedom. The day is celebrated as Utkal Diwas.
AUSP general secretary Sanjeev Kumar Jena in his address called upon all present to join the celebration with enthusiasm.
Terming the day a great occasion, AUSP vice president Kalpalata Behera lauded “those who took steps for this year’s celebration.”
AUSP founder member Pradeep Kumar recalled the rich history of the Odias, “whose brevity had turned king Ashok after historic Kalinga war that ended in 261 BC from Chandasoka to Dharmasoka to embrace Buddhism and send his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to spread Buddhism across South East Asia nations, which had ended in Arunachal as its proofs have been found.
“This justifies the greatness of Odias, who have carved their niche across the world,” he said.
