People across western Odisha marked Sambalpuri Day (Sambalpuri Din) with traditional enthusiasm, donning Sambalpuri handloom attire, enjoying regional delicacies, and participating in cultural programmes celebrating the region’s linguistic and artistic heritage.
Observed annually on August 1, the day commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Satya Narayan Bohidar, the scholar who pioneered the preservation and promotion of the Sambalpuri language. Born in 1913, Bohidar authored Sambalpuri Bhasakosh, the first dictionary of the language, and penned several literary works including Tik Chahnra, Ghuvkudu, and Ghavghavo.
Sambalpuri is spoken across nine western Odisha districts—Sambalpur, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Boudh, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Nuapada, and Subarnapur—and remains central to the region’s cultural identity.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi greeted citizens, calling Sambalpuri language, folk art, music, dance, and handloom “symbols of Odisha’s pride and identity.” Naveen Patnaik, Leader of the Opposition, paid tribute to Bohidar, while Dharmendra Pradhan and Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo also extended greetings, highlighting the day’s significance in promoting regional pride and unity.
