Jammu, March 30: The Jammu Kashmir Lok Bhavan on Monday hosted a cultural event to celebrate Rajasthan Foundation Day. The evening also served as a commemoration for Odisha Day, also known as ‘Utkala Dibasa,’ which is observed annually on April 1.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the gathering, extending his felicitations to the people of both Rajasthan and Odisha. He remarked on Rajasthan’s historical contributions to societal upliftment and Odisha’s rich heritage’s impact on India’s consciousness and philosophy. The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the diversity and ancient values of these two states have inspired people, fostering strength and a vision for uniting humanity.
Highlighting Rajasthan’s linguistic and cultural richness, Sinha noted the influence of languages such as Hindi, Marwari, Hadoti, Mewari, Mewati, and Punjabi on its literary and cultural traditions. He described Rajasthan as a repository of spirituality, valor, heroism, and folk arts, with its cultural wealth witnessed by the Aravalli hills and Thar Desert throughout history. The Lieutenant Governor also referenced the Bhakti era figures from Rajasthan who propagated new ideas and instilled self-confidence, citing Meerabai, born in Pali, as a torchbearer of devotion, synonymous with surrender and sacrifice.
The Lieutenant Governor then turned his attention to Odisha, underscoring its profound cultural, spiritual, and artistic legacy. He stated that Odisha exemplifies millennia of India’s cultural and spiritual golden age, with significant contributions to the nation’s development from Emperor Ashoka’s era in 261 BCE, when the region was known as Kalinga, up to the present day. Sinha paid tribute to prominent personalities from both states, acknowledging their substantial roles in nation-building.
He further articulated that influential figures from Rajasthan and Odisha fueled goal-oriented devotion through the Bhakti movement. Their vibrant folk arts, music-infused culture, life values, and industrial achievements, Sinha noted, have strengthened the ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ ethos, thereby preserving fundamental social principles. Special invitees at the event included officials, students and faculty members from various educational institutions, as well as residents of Rajasthan and Odisha living in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenab Times News Desk