Bhubaneswar: On the fifth day of the ‘Odia Pakhya’ (Odia Fortnight) celebrations, the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, organised a grand Heritage Marathon in the historic Ekamra Kshetra today.
The marathon kicked off at 5:30 am from the Mukteswar Temple, winding through some of the city’s cultural landmarks, including Rameshwar Temple, Vivekananda Marg, Utkal Kanika Galleria Mall, Lewis Road, BJB College, and Rabi Talkies Square, before concluding at the iconic Rajarani Temple.
Over a thousand participants—comprising athletes, youth, persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), and local citizens—joined senior officials for the run. All attendees took a collective pledge to protect and promote Odisha’s rich heritage and monuments.
The top performers were honored for their achievements: Chandan Samal clinched first place, Siddharth Kumar Mishra came second, and Vijay Agrawal finished third. All participants received medals in recognition of their enthusiasm and contribution to the cause.
Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, attending as Chief Guest, said, “The marathon is more than a sporting event; it is a vital initiative to connect the younger generation with their roots. Our ancient temples and monuments are symbols of Odia identity (Asmita), and their preservation is our moral responsibility.”
He also thanked Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Minister for Sports and Youth Services Suryabanshi Suraj for spearheading the campaign that bridges youth with the state’s historical legacy.
The event witnessed a star-studded presence, with Olympian Anuradha Biswal and popular Odia film actress Sivani Sangita joining government officials, including Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia and Additional Secretaries Ashok Kumar Panda and Bijay Kumar Swain. Their presence added a vibrant mix of administrative leadership and celebrity appeal to the celebrations.
