Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will release a revised edition of Lakshmi Purana, the celebrated composition of medieval poet-saint Balaram Das, on the upcoming ‘Manabasa Gurubara’ as part of efforts to popularise the iconic literary work across the state.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism, Pravati Parida, announced that the government will distribute one crore copies of the revised Lakshmi Purana to households across Odisha.
Addressing a national seminar titled “Shakti Bandanara Mahagatha – Balaram Dasnka Lakshmi Purana” at Mission Shakti Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, Parida said a fresh musical rendition of the original composition will also be produced.
Renowned singers Geeta Das and Namita Agrawal will jointly record the revised version of the Lakshmi Purana, she said, adding that the initiative aims to take the literary and cultural legacy of Balaram Das to every household in the state.
Parida informed that research work for the revised edition is currently underway and is expected to be completed within the next two months. The revised text and the newly recorded musical version will be released on the occasion of Manabasa Gurubara.
The announcement was made during the inaugural session of the national seminar organised at Mission Shakti Bhavan, where scholars, researchers and experts deliberated on the literary, cultural and social significance of Balaram Das’s Lakshmi Purana.
