Bhubaneswar: Odias across the globe sang Odisha’s state anthem ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ at 11.00 AM today on the occasion of the inauguration of the three-day long first World Odia Language Conference (1st Biswa Odia Bhasa Sammilani).
Officials in all State government offices across the State including the Lok Seva Bhawan sang the state anthem ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ in unison at 11.00 AM.
The event at the Lok Seva Bhawan here was held at the Palm Court, which was attended by the rank and file and senior officials.
Special Secretary, Home Department Santosh Bala made the gathering of officers and employees sing state anthem ‘Bande Utkal Janani’. Principal Secretary, Health Department Shalini Pandit, Additional Secretary General Administration & Public Grievances Department Siba Narayan Sahoo, Additional Director of Information & Public Relations Department Santosh Kumar Das and senior officers and employees of various departments were present.
Similarly, ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ was sung in the Information & Public Relations Department. The Department’s Additional Secretary Bishnupriya Sahu took the lead in the programme. The Department’s Joint Director Gurbir Singh, Deputy Secretary Prabhakar Behera, Assistant Finance Adviser Pruthviraj Pani, Under Secretary Sunanda Mishra and all officers and employees of the Department were present.
The Odisha government had appealed to all Odias living across the globe to sing the state anthem ‘Bande Utkal Janani’ at 11.00 AM on February 3, when the state will hold the first World Odia language conference in Bhubaneswar.
The appeal was made by Odia Language, Literature & Culture (OLLC) department at a press conference here addressed by Minister Ashwini Patra, Information and Public Relations Department Secretary Sanjay Singh and OLLC Secretary Sujata K Rout on Wednesday.
Rout had said that the first World Odia Language Conference 2024 is a celebration of the antiquity and continuity of Odia, one of the six classical languages of India.
Rout said the first Odisha Bhasha Sammilani (Odia Language Conference) planned to connect the younger generation to Odia language and singing of ‘Bande Utkal Janani by all Odias living in the State, in the country or abroad to have a better impact of the conference.
