Results for #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest are here!!

It's been exactly a month since Odisha's Foundation Day or #UtkalaDibasa. I know all you folks have been eagerly awaiting the results of  #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest!

Today, I feel privileged to bring you the winners of #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest hosted by me since April 1st 2015!  

#UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest NOW EXTENDED TILL 19 APRIL 2015!

Hey friends!

On popular demand, I am extending the deadline for the #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest to next Sunday- 19 April, 2015!


The following are the original prizes for #UtkalaDibasaQuiz #Contest:

Grand Prize #1 - Couple 2N/3D Stay at Toshali Sands, Puri sponsored by Toshali Resorts

 

#UtkalaDibasaQuiz : Win 2N-3D Stay at Puri, Ratnagiri & lots more!

 

 

The following #UtkalaDibasa Quiz commemorates #UtkalaDibasa 2015 - Odisha's Foundation Day. 

Source

Check out the #UtkalaDibasaQuiz Rules and Terms and Conditions HERE.

A chance to WIN Travel-Stays worth Rs 11,000, Rs 8,000 and 10 other fabulous prizes!

Coming Up: #UtkalaDibasaQuiz! Win Grand Prizes!

The #UtkalaDibasaQuiz Contest is a humble attempt to popularize the beautiful culture and heritage-rich eastern Indian state of Odisha amongst netizens. 

Odisha is also known as Utkala or the Land of Utkarsha Kala (exquisite arts).

Starting from Odisha's Foundation Day (Utkala Dibasa) of 1st April, 2015, the #UtkalaDibasaQuiz will be on till 19th April, 2015. 

Participants can win 2 Grand Prizes - 2 nights/3 days stay in the beautiful Toshali Resorts of Puri or Ratnagiri in Odisha worth about Rs 11,000 and Rs 8,000 respectively, sponsored by Toshali Resorts!

There are 10 Consolation prizes too - lovely Odisha Tourism Souvenir Items sponsored by Odisha Tourism!

Toshali Sands Resort, Puri, Odisha

Odia Micropoetry:Respecting the beckoning of my heart

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ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ! ଜୟ ଓଡିଶା !

ଏହି ପାବନ ମାଟିର ଭାଷାରେ ଆହୁରି ଲେଖିବି

ମୋ ହୃଦୟର ଆହ୍ଵାନକୁ ସମ୍ମାନ ଦେବି...:)

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R: Rigging in Indian Elections 2014

Rigging in elections means using fraudulent practices during voting process to garner votes by any party. This has been sadly seen amply in Odisha's elections this time. Even in several other states of India also this has been seen, which puts a big question mark on the 'free and fair conduct of elections' in the world's largest democracy. And we are still half way to go for the end of elections.

A tv media channel has captured how on April 17, a group of men entered a polling booth in Aul Assembly Constituency of Kendrapara district of Odisha and forced people to cast the vote as per their order or simply they took over voting. This is a shameful activity and culprits must be nabbed and jailed immediately. To whichever political party they belong, the public should ask for answers and should never vote any party which spreads such hooliganism. Link is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cPhW6xL2Lw&feature=youtu.be

Also recent violence in Kendrapara over a four-wheeler having many EVMs and parked outside a BDO's house was terrible. A person died and many others are seriously injured. Transferring EVMs to strong-rooms has also been done without police security, casting wide doubts over their exposure to tampering. 

O: Odisha voted today in its 2nd phase!

 

The beautiful state of Odisha voted today for filling up 11 Lok Sabha seats and 77 Assembly seats. Earlier, voting for 10 Lok Sabha seats and 70 Assembly seats had been completed. The Northern and Coastal districts of Odisha have voted today. News reports say that 70% voter turn-out was witnessed- quite high compared to states like Rajasthan, Karnataka etc.

I voted too from Bhubaneswar Central constituency. Felt great!

April 1st is #UtkalaDibasa!

April 1st happens to be a very special day for over 5 Crore (50 million) people belonging to the eastern state of Odisha in India. This was the day - 1st April 1936- that Odisha was born as a state. Odisha's people are also called Odias. Today Odias are dispersed across India and the world, in this increasingly globalised era and all celebrate #UtkalaDibasa or Odisha Day with great joy and reverence. Odia is the language of the people of Odisha. This ancient, rich and great language has recently been announced as the Sixth Classical Language of India and the very first Indo-Aryan language which has been granted this highly esteemed status. Odissi is the classical dance of Odisha- one of the most subtle, beautiful, graceful dance forms of India.

On auspicious #UtkalaDibasa I convey my best wishes to all Odia brothers and sisters..Source

Odisha since historical times has had several names- Udra Desa, Kalinga, Utkala, Odisha. Hence April 1st is popularly called Utkala Dibasa : 'Utkala' name was popular during 19th and early 20th centuries when Odia freedom fighters took up the cause, and 'Dibasa' means Day. Famous patriotic song written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra 'Bande Utkala Janani' was made the state anthem upon Utkala's independence on April 1st, 1936. For full lyrics, click here.