Bhubaneswar/ Raipur, Ap 1: On April 1, 2026, Odisha will celebrate its Foundation Day, and the event will be held at Lok Bhavan. Purandar Mishra, the State President of the All Odisha Society and MLA of Raipur North Legislative Assembly, announced that the Governor, Ramesh Bais, will be the chief guest for the program. The event will be chaired by the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel.

Key dignitaries, including ministers from the Chhattisgarh government, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Charan Das Mahanta, MPs, Raipur city MLAs, Mayor of Raipur Municipal Corporation Mrs. Meenal Choubey, and councillors from both Chhattisgarh and Odisha, will also be present.

The celebration will feature a variety of cultural programs, including Odia songs, bhajans, Odissi dance, and Sambalpuri dance performances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Odisha. Additionally, talented individuals from the community will be honored by the Governor during the event.

The formation of the Odisha province was officially recognized on April 1, 1936, marking the creation of a separate state. At that time, a large part of present-day Chhattisgarh was part of Odisha, and the Odia-speaking people from different communities remained in Chhattisgarh. Today, the Odia-speaking population in Chhattisgarh exceeds 3.5 million. The tradition of celebrating Utkal Divas in Raipur began in the 1990s, with the first official Utkal Divas celebration taking place in 1994.

This year’s event will once again serve as a reminder of the enduring cultural ties between Chhattisgarh and Odisha, as well as the significant contributions of the Odia community to both states' cultural fabric.