World Odisha Society to Celebrate Pravasi Odia Divas on January 11th
By Fnf correspondent | PUBLISHED: 04, Dec 2024, 19:54 pm IST | UPDATED: 04, Dec 2024, 19:54 pm IST
New Delhi: World Odisha Society(WOS) is all set to celebrate Pravasi Odia Divas (POD) on 11th January 2025 at Bhubaneswar in Hybrid mode. The POD will be observed after the conclusion of Three days long Pravasi Bharatiya Divas scheduled to be held on 8th, 9th and 10th January 2025 at Odisha’s capital. In a statement Chairman of WOS Kishore Dwibedi disclosed that Non Resident Odias’ Day will be organised to commemorate the Fourth Foundation Day of World Odisha Society. To mark the grand occasion a spectacular Cultural Extravaganza entitled “Utkala Utsava”, showcasing the rich performing arts forms, vibrant cultural heritage and lofty traditional ethos of Odisha will be staged, Shri Dwibedi added. The decision to host Pravasi Odia Divas was taken in a joint meeting of WOS’s Executive Body and Working Committee held in online platform under the presidentship of Shri Dwibedi. Members and office bearers of World Odisha Society across the Globe, prominent NROs and representatives of Odia Samajs spreading all over the World are expected to take part in the Mega Event. The Mahakumbha of Odia Diaspora world wide will also witness the conferment of First Pravasi Odia Samman and Ratnashri Puraskars to eminent Odias in recognition to their outstanding contributions towards enriching their Mother State Odisha’s name, fame and fortune in National and International arena. A colourful Souvenir is slated to be published during the Celebration.
It may be mentioned here that World Odisha Society was founded during the auspicious day of Makarsankranti in 2021 with Twenty countries as members. The prime motto of this apex institution of Global Odias is to unite around one and half crore Odias staying outside of Odisha under one platform and channelize their material and metaphysical resources towards all round development of Odisha. Now after three years of existence the society has substantially enhanced its presence in major parts of the Globe and at present Odia representatives of around 72 countries of the World have become members of WOS.
The online meeting was attended by WOS’s Founder Dr Arundhati Debi from India, Adviser Dhirendra Kar from USA, Presidium Members Amiya Mishra from Dubai and Pradeep Kumar Rath from Abu Dhabi, International Convenor Santosh Mishra from Russia, International Co – ordinator Akshay Mohanty from USA, Vice – Chairman Dr Nalini Pati from Australia, Secretary General Siba Ranjan Biswal from UK, General Secretary Public Relation and Protocol Krupanidhi Biswal from India, President Kuwait Chapter of WOS Biswaranjan Sahoo, General Secretary and Vice – President of women’s wing Dr Chidatmika Khatua and Reeta Patra respectively from India, Cultural General Secretary Kaveri Behera from India, Cultural Joint General Secretary Dr Bhagyashree Singh from UK, Joint General Secretary Brand Promotion Sanjay Das from Zimbabwe, Chief Co – ordinator and General Secretary of New Delhi and NCR Branch Umakant Jena and Jnana Prakash Jena respectively, President of Assam Odia Mahasbaha Jugesh Suna and others from India include senior members Satyabrata Mohanty, Manasmita Jena Nayak, Rajaram Padhi and Youth Wing member Nandan Dwibedi.