The Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, led by Culture Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, held a high-level review meeting to chart new directions for Odisha’s cultural landscape.
The department announced six major initiatives aimed at preserving heritage, promoting literature, and enhancing institutional capacity.
The government will restore “Pather Puri,” the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore in Puri, and convert it into a museum honoring the Nobel laureate’s legacy. This move aims to deepen cultural ties and celebrate Tagore’s connection to Odisha.
During Cuttack’s iconic Bali Jatra, starting November 5, a Theme Pavilion will spotlight eminent Odia writers and their literary works. Indonesia will join as the Partner Country, while an Indian state will participate under the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative. Cultural troupes from South Asia will perform, enriching the festival’s global appeal.
The department will extend financial aid to Kendrapada’s Gajalaxmi Puja, following similar support to Dhenkanal. This gesture reinforces the government’s commitment to sustaining traditional festivals.
To strengthen cultural education, the department will fast-track recruitment for vacant posts at Culture University, Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art and Crafts, Government College of Art and Crafts, and Khalikote.
State Archaeology will begin restoration of the historic Kalidas Temple in Kendrapada, preserving its architectural and spiritual significance.
Finally, OBCC has received orders to accelerate construction of the Odia Asmita Bhawan near Sainik School, Bhubaneswar, envisioned as a hub for Odia identity and pride.
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