Bhubaneswar: People across Odisha celebrated Utkal Divas on Sunday to commemorate the formation of the state in 1936.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the people on Twitter, saying: “The entire country is proud of leaders who contributed immensely for the development of state and country.”
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also extended his greetings and paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the formation of a separate state which was carved out of a combined Bengal-Bihar-Odisha province on April 1, 1936.
Sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik created a special sculpture at the Puri beach marking the occasion.