Amid rising global conflicts, violence and erosion of trust, the annual Holi Bandhu Milan Utsav organised by Pragativadi on Monday became a powerful platform to reaffirm the festival’s deeper message of brotherhood, faith and peace.
Held just before Dola Purnima and Holi, the event at Pragativadi premises transformed into a vibrant confluence of literature, culture and social consciousness. Poets, writers, journalists, readers and political leaders came together not just to play with colours but to send a strong message: “Let the world be painted in the colours of faith and peace.”
The programme began with the traditional lamp-lighting by eminent educationist and columnist Prof. Dhaneswar Sahu, columnist and litterateur Arvind Ray, and noted theatre director-actor Dhirendra Nath Mallik. Poet and legislator Dr. Arun Kumar Sahu and former legislator Priyadarshi Mishra graced the occasion as honoured guests.
Guest speakers, including educationist-researcher Dr. Uddhab Charan Nayak, Dr. Basanti Mohanty, Gandhian writer Dr. Abash Parida, language movement leader Pabitra Maharatha, Utkal Journalists Union president Bibhuti Bhushan Kar, and Bou Foundation convener Atish Mohanty, delivered stirring addresses. They highlighted how Holi should transcend mere celebration and become a medium to heal societal divisions.
Pragativadi Chairperson Saswati Bal warmly welcomed all guests and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Pragativadi family. Director Dr Mona Lisa Bal extended greetings and felicitated the winners of the daily Pragativadi Quiz contest. Executive Editor Birupakshya Tripathy delivered the welcome address.
A highlight of the evening was the grand poetry recitation festival, coordinated by poet Kshanaprabha Sarangi. Over two dozen poets enthralled the audience with their verses, including Dr. Safala Das, Meera Beura, Madhusmita Sha, Bijay Laxmi Mohanty, Dr. Mangalika Mohapatra, Rashmi Samal, Smruti Pattnaik, Ambika Swain, Amitabh Panda, Itishree Pati, Pabitra Mohan Barik, Bebilata Satapathy, Major Manorajan Mohanty, Ananta Gopal Panda, Sweta Rout, Sushree Simranjita Barik, Dr. Nibedita Mohanty, Laxmidhar Behera, Deepa Maharana, Dillip Satapathy, Niranjan Samantray, Laxmikant Das, Nabin Kumar Das, Dr. Arun Kumar Sahu, Binapani Choudhury, Geetanjali Dalei, Sanjulata Pattnaik and others.
Senior dignitaries who attended and extended Holi greetings included Pragativadi Editorial Director Lalit Pattajoshi, Dr. Ajay Kumar Patra, Alekh Chandra Mishra, poet Abhimanyu Dhala, journalist and culture researcher Shubhendu Kumar Bhuyan, columnist Om Abhijnan Sahu, Er. Alok Bhuyan, Sudhanshu Sekhar Dhadha, Dr. Sitakant Tripathy, Dr. Anil Nand, Dr. Gopalakrishna Acharya, Nrusingha Tarai, BJP Media Cell Convener Sujit Kumar Das, Chandikhole Bar Association Secretary Advocate Prakash Dash, and AIIMS Public Relations Officer Raj Kishore Das.
Lalitendu Pattnaik conducted the programme while Santosh Kumar Das coordinated the quiz prize distribution. A large team of Pragativadi staff, led by Mahendra Kumar Sahoo, Sridhar Pani, Jagannath Bhoi, Manas Mahapatra and others, ensured smooth execution. Senior journalist Subash Mohapatra and district correspondents also played key roles.
On this occasion, three young Pragativadi colleagues — Chittaranjan Majhi, Himanshu Behera and Diptiranjan Mania — who recently tied the knot, were felicitated by Chairperson Saswati Bal.
Pragativadi Quiz Winners Felicitated
During the same event, Director Dr. Mona Lisa Bal awarded prizes to winners of Pragativadi’s popular daily quiz. The winners hailed from across Odisha:
– Mojaffar Khan (Jagatsinghpur)
– Ashutosh Tripathy, Sanyog Kumar Mohanty, Baidyanath Hota, Haripriya Acharya (Khordha)
– Ananya Abhisarika Sahu, Sarat Chandra Sahu, Bulu Pattnaik (Kendujhar)
– Ashish Gadatia (Balangir)
– Bhagyashree Muduli, Biswa Prakash Rautray, Amrit Ray, Prajna Das (Jagatsinghpur)
– Padmaja Mohanty, Anup Kumar Mahapatra, Archit Mahapatra (Puri)
– Sheikh Mojaffar Alam, Satyabrata Sahu (Jajpur)
– Pradyumna Rout (Dhenkanal)
– Lambodar Patra (Mayurbhanj)
The event concluded on a note of renewed hope, with participants resolving to carry forward Holi’s spirit of love and unity long after the colours fade.
