In a powerful blend of spirituality, literature and social vision, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida today inaugurated a prestigious national seminar titled “The Great Epic of Shakti Worship – Laxmi Purana of Balaram Das” at Mission Shakti Bhawan auditorium in Bhubaneswar.
The high-profile event, organised by the Tourism Department, brought together leading scholars, writers, researchers and artists to explore the timeless literary, cultural and deeply progressive message of the iconic 16th-century Odia masterpiece by poet-saint Balaram Das — one of the revered Panchasakha.
Delivering the inaugural address, Deputy CM Parida described the Mahalakshmi Purana as far more than a religious text.
“Its core message is not merely religious — it is the symbol of a social revolution,” she said. “True prosperity does not lie only in wealth. It rests on justice, equality, hard work, self-respect and dignity.”
She announced that the Tourism Department has already prepared a detailed blueprint to construct the ‘Laxmi Purana Corridor’ at the historic Samadhi Peeth of Balaram Das in Begunia village (Gop block). The corridor will serve as a living tribute to the epic’s powerful message of women’s empowerment and social equality, while boosting cultural tourism in the region.
Law, Works & Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, who graced the occasion as Guest of Honour, lauded the initiative, calling the Laxmi Purana “not just a hymn to Goddess Lakshmi, but a process and a path to honour women.” He praised the Tourism Department’s efforts to take this progressive Odia legacy to the world stage.
A specially produced conceptual video of the proposed Laxmi Purana Corridor was screened during the programme, giving the audience a first glimpse of the upcoming landmark.
Eminent speakers including Dr Vidyutlata Mohanty (Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi), noted writer-columnist Asit Mohanty, retired professor Gouranga Charan Das, renowned vocalists Geeta Das and Namita Agrawal, along with scholars from Ananta Abadhuta Math, Ramadevi Women’s University and Utkal University, participated in the main discussion session and shared insightful perspectives on the epic’s enduring relevance.
Senior officials — Bijay Ketan Upadhyay (Secretary, Odia Language, Literature & Culture), Dr Monika Priyadarshini (Director, Mission Shakti) and Dipankar Mahapatra (Director, Tourism) — were also present.
The Deputy Chief Minister concluded the event by felicitating all the distinguished participants.
