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Odia Pakhya 2026 – 14-Day Cultural Festival (1 to 14 April) | Higher Education Dept Circular
Odia Pakhya 2026 – 14-Day Cultural Festival (1 to 14 April) | Higher Education Dept Circular
Announced by: Government of Odisha
Dates: 1 April to 14 April 2026
Odisha Government has announced a grand **14-day cultural festival “Odia Pakhya 2026”** from **1 April to 14 April 2026**, starting on Utkala Dibasa and ending on Odia New Year.
Higher Education Department Circular – Instructions to All Colleges
Letter No: 16649 | Date: 24.03.2026
Higher Education Department has directed all colleges and universities in Odisha to:
- Organize competitions on **Poetry (āŽāŽŽିāŽĪା)**, **Story (āŽāŽģ୍āŽŠ)** and **Essay (āŽŠ୍āŽ°āŽŽāŽĻ୍āŽ§)**.
- Nominate **3 best finalists** from each college and send them to the Government.
- Actively encourage students to buy at least one Odia book on the designated day.
Day-wise Major Events of Odia Pakhya 2026
| Date | Theme / Day | Department / Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April | Utkala Dibasa | Information & Public Relations |
| 2 April | Khadi Chuan Day | School & Mass Education |
| 3 April | Ama Poshak Ama Parichaya Day | Handloom & Handicrafts |
| 4 April | Odia Nameplate Campaign | Labour Department |
| 5 April | Heritage Run | Sports & Youth Services + Higher Education |
| 6 April | Cleanliness Drive | Panchayati Raj & Urban Development |
| 7 April | Shishu Katha Divas | Odia Language, Literature & Culture |
| 8 April | Blood Donation Drive | Health & Family Welfare |
| 9 April | Aasa Bahitie Kiniba Abhiyan | Buy Odia Book Campaign |
| 10 April | Lokakala Paain Dinatie | Folk Arts & Traditional Performing Arts |
| 11 April | Amrutapidhi Samaroh | Creative Festival for Youth |
| 12 April | Bandaneeya Baraputra | Great Personalities of Odisha |
| 13 April | Ama Ruchi Ama Khadya Divas | Traditional Odia Cuisine |
| 14 April | Odia New Year Celebrations | State-wide Grand Finale |
VIEW L.No. 18068 DATED 04.04.2026 FOR LATEST INSTRUCTION OF H.E. DEPTT. WhatsApp Telegram Facebook
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is Odia Pakhya 2026?
A 14-day grand cultural festival from 1 April to 14 April 2026 celebrating Odia language, literature, and heritage.
2. What has Higher Education Department instructed colleges to do?
Conduct competitions on Poetry, Galpa (Story) and Prabandha (Essay) and nominate 3 best finalists to the Government.
3. Is there any campaign to buy Odia books?
Yes – “Aasa Bahitie Kiniba Abhiyan” on 9 April encourages everyone to buy at least one Odia book.