Bhubaneswar: People from different walks of life across Odisha as well as outside are looking forward to sing Bande Utkala Janani, Odisha’s unofficial state song, at 5.30 pm on Saturday to motivate COVID warriors.
Responding to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s May 28 appeal to the people of Odisha to sing Bande Utkala Janani on Saturday to boost the morale of the frontline personnel fighting coronavirus, millions of people of the eastern state as well as the Odia diaspora are ready to lend their voices to Kantakabi Laxmikant Mohapatra’s immortal lines.
“We are all geared up to sing Bande Utkala Janani,” said Kabita Mishra, a homemaker. Prominent cititens have also come out in support of the Chief Minister’s appeal, triggering newfound interest in the song, which for all practical purposes is being revered as Odisha’s anthem.
With the fourth-phase lockdown slated toend on Sunday, the Bande Utkala Janani chorus is expected to make embolden the people of the state to battle COVID-19 with renewed vigour even as experts have said that the world has to learn to live with the virus.
On Thursday, Naveen, in a video message, said, “I request you to maintain social distancing and sing Bande Utkala Janani to encourage our corona warriors and respect their selfless sacrifices in this grim battle.”
Subsequently, the Chief Minister has requested all political parties to participate in this event and extend their support to the corona warriors. Opposition BJP has welcomed the CM’s appeal.
