Odisha Foundation Day 2025 Wishes, Photos, Images, Theme, Status | Odisha Divas:
The state of Odisha celebrates Odisha Divas or Utkala Divas every year on April 1st to commemorate the state formation day. On this day 82 years ago, Orissa (now Odisha) was established as a province of British India.
- In 1912, Bihar and Orissa had been separated from Bengal to form the Bihar and Orissa Province.
- In 1936, Bihar and Orissa Province was itself split to form Bihar Province and Orissa Province.
- On 1 April 1936, the new province Orissa came into being with Sir John Austin Hubback, Indian Civil Servant (ICS), as the Governor.
- Orissa was the first linguistic province in the country.
- After Independence, the area of Orissa was almost doubled and the population was increased by a third with the addition of 24 former princely states.
- The name of the state was changed from Orissa to Odisha, and the name of its language from Oriya to Odia, in 2011.
Known centuries ago as Kalinga, the state of Odisha has displayed exemplary courage in resisting the might of the Mauryas in the Kalinga War. Home to Lord Jagannath, state of Odisha has a fifth of India’s coal, a quarter of its iron ore, a third of its bauxite reserves and much of the country’s art and culture.
Odisha Dibasa or Utkala Dibasa is celebrated every year on 1 April all over Odisha. Thousands of stores and Jhankis make this festival more beautiful. There are competitions arranged by popular local politicians like fireworks competition. One can enjoy these fireworks displays, which make the sky all the more stunning. On that day all across the country, the family of Odia arranges various cultural programs like a sing-song program. Utkala Dibasa is the day of remembrance for all Odia people who helped everybody to be united.