Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida performed Kanya Pujan during Navratri on Thursday at an event organised by the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) in Bhubaneswar.

Accompanied by officials, Parida highlighted the importance of protecting girls' dignity and rights, stressing the need to ensure their safety, education and overall development.

According to a statement from her office, she said Kanya Pujan goes beyond traditional worship and serves as a reminder of society's responsibility towards every girl child.

She called for collective efforts to build a child-friendly society where every girl is respected, protected and empowered to fulfil her aspirations.

Navratri is a nine-day Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her various forms. The festival is observed through religious rituals, devotional singing and traditional dances.

Earlier, on October 8 and 9, Parida met Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi in New Delhi during a two-day Departmental Summit aimed at strengthening coordination between the Centre and states on women and child development.

The summit discussed improving nutrition and early childhood education through Anganwadi Centres, strengthening child protection mechanisms, ensuring women's safety and expanding women’s empowerment initiatives.

According to an official statement, Odisha's participation reflected the state's commitment to sharing its initiatives, learning from other states and translating policy decisions into tangible improvements in the lives of women and children.

The summit was the second in a series initiated by the Prime Minister to strengthen cooperative federalism, promote collective responsibility and accelerate progress on key national priorities.