Odisha Day, also Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated on 1 April in the Indian state of

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

in memory of the formation of the state as a separate state out of

Bihar and Orissa Province Bihar and Orissa was a province of British India, which included the present-day Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha. The territories were conquered by the British in the 18th and 19th centuries, and were governed by the then Indian C ...

with addition of

Koraput Koraput is a town and a Municipality in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. Koraput town is the district headquarter of Koraput district. History The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of ...

and

Ganjam Ganjam is a town and a notified area council in Ganjam district in the state of Odisha, India. Brahmapur, one of the major city of Odisha is situated in this district. Geography Ganjam is located at in the Ganjam district of Odisha with an ...

from the

Madras Presidency The Madras Presidency, or the Presidency of Fort St. George, also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision (presidency) of British India. At its greatest extent, the presidency included most of southern India, including the ...

on 1 April 1936. After losing its political identity completely in 1568 following the defeat and demise of the last king Mukunda Dev, efforts resulted in the formation of a politically separate state under

British rule The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was hims ...

on a linguistic basis on 1 April 1936.Orissareview
April 2008. pp. 17-19

State history

The main revolution in this separate state continued for three decades from the very day of formation of

Utkal Sammilani Utkala Sammilani ( or, ଉତ୍କଳ ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ)is an Indian social and cultural organization. It was founded in Odisha in 1903 by Madhusudan Das and continues in present times. History Utkal Sammilani was founded by Madhusuda ...

that led to the foundation of a separate Odisha Province. The movement turned more intense under the leadership of Utkala Gouraba Madhusudan Das, Utkala mani

Gopabandhu Das Gopabandhu Das (1877–1928), popularly known as ''Utkalamani'' (''Jewel of Utkal'' or Odisha), was a social worker, reformer, political activist, journalist, poet and essayist. Early life Gopabandhu Das was born on 9 October 1877 in Suando ...

, Maharaja SriRam Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharaja

Krushna Chandra Gajapati Krushna Chandra Gajapati KCIE (26 April 1892 – 25 May 1974), also known as Captain Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deba KCIE, was a key personality and regarded as the architect , founding father of an Independent O ...

, Pandita

Nilakantha Das Pandit Nilakantha Das (1884-1967) was one of the most illustrious sons of Odisha, who appeared both in its ''political and literary arena'' at the most crucial period of its history, when Odisha had no political identity in the map of India, and ...

Fakir Mohan Senapati Fakir Mohan Senapati (Odia: ଫକୀର ମୋହନ ସେନାପତି; 13 January 1843 – 14 June 1918), often referred to as Utkala Byasa Kabi (''Odisha's Vyasa''), was an Indian writer, poet, philosopher and social reformer. He played ...

Gangadhar Meher Swabhaba kabi Gangadhar Meher () was a renowned Odia poet of the 19th century. Though poor in wealth and education, he remained one of the most prolific and original contributor to Odia literature. Childhood Gangadhara was born in 1862 on the ...

, Basudeba Sudhaladeba,

Radhanath Ray Radhanath Ray ( or, :or:ରାଧାନାଥ ରାୟ, ରାଧାନାଥ ରାୟ) (28 September 1848 – 17 April 1908) was an Odia language, Odia writer of initial modernity era in Odia literature, Odia poetry during the later part o ...

Bhubanananda Das Bhubanananda Das was an Indian Independence activist from Orissa. He was a member of the Central Legislative Assembly, Constituent Assembly of India, Provisional Parliament, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Das was president of the Fir ...

A. P. Patro Rao Bahadur Sir Annepu Parasuramdas Patro KCIE (1875 or 1876–1946) was an Indian politician, ''zamindar'' and education minister in the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Patro was born in a rich and powerful family of Berhampur, Madras Presidenc ...

and many others with the support of the public. The newly formed Odisha consisted of six districts namely

Cuttack Cuttack (, or officially Kataka ) in Odia is the former capital and the second largest city in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is an anglicised form of ''Kataka'' which literally ...

Puri Puri () is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as '' ...

, Baleswar,

Sambalpur Sambalpur () is the fifth largest city in the Indian State of Odisha. It is located on the banks of river Mahanadi, with a population of 335,761 (as per 2011 census). Prehistoric settlements have been recorded there. It is the home of the Sam ...

and

with its capital at

. John Austin Hubback took the oath of office and became the first Governor of Odisha Province. As of 1 April 2019, Odisha has 30 districts.

Celebration

Odisha Dibasa or Utkala Dibasa is celebrated every year on 1 April all over Odisha. Thousands of shops and Jhankis makes this festival more beautiful. There are competitions arranged by popular local politicians like

fireworks Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large number of devices ...

competition. One can enjoy these fireworks displays which make the sky all the more stunning. On that day all across the country, the family of Odia arranges different cultural programs like a sing-song program. Utkala Dibasa is the day of remembrance for all Odia helps everybody to be united.

References

{{Indian state foundation days Odia culture History of Odisha Indian state foundation days 1936 in India April observances

State history

Celebration

See also

References