Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Begins In Bhubaneswar; Check Sessions Lined Up For Today & Other Attractions

Bhubaneswar: The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was inaugurated by Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Mansukh Mandviya, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. 

The event started at the Main Plenary Hall after the two Union Ministers and the Chief Minister lighted the lamp.

A large number of young members of the diaspora, who will play a significant role in realising the vision of a Viksit Bharat, are participating in the event. 

Some Important Sessions Today On Odisha

Joint Business session between Odisha & MEA from 10.45 am-11.30 am to be addressed by EAM S Jaishankar and CM Mohan Majhi.

2 pm-3.30 pm: Unraveling India’s Best Kept Secret

3.45 pm-5.15 pm: Odisha: A land of opportunities

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled attend the event on January 10 and January 9 respectively.

The PM will reach the city by a special IAF aircraft at 8 pm on January 8 from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and spend the night at Raj Bhavan. He will formally inaugurate the convention at 10 am on January 9 at Janata Maidan, being hosted in Odisha for the first time. Around 5,000 NRIs are expected to attend the event.

Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo is expected to join the inaugural event.

President Murmu’s flight is scheduled to arrive around 4.35 pm on January 9. She will be attending the valedictory session on January 10 and conferring Pravasi Bharatiya Samman’ awards on Indian diaspora for exceptional work in their fields in India and abroad.

PBD commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915. This year’s theme is ‘Diaspora’s contribution to a Viksit Bharat’.

Welcoming Bhubaneswar With Hordes Of Attractions

Thousands of dignitaries and global Indians have arrived in Bhubaneswar, which is the venue for the 18th edition of the three-day convention. And both the state government and city administration have been making all efforts to offer them a memorable experience of Odisha’s culture and heritage with specially curated visits to museums, dance and music festivals, art camps, food festival and even night flea markets.

Also Read: Odisha CM Launches Double-Decker Buses Ahead Of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

While walls on the streets with traditional paintings, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the state, add splashes of colour to the urban landscape, several prominent landmarks of the city are decorated with colourful applique works from Pipili and glittering lights.

Six new galleries, showcasing the state’s royal possessions, textiles, tribal lifestyle, puppets and masks, an orientation hall and an exhibition on Ramayana engraved on palm leaves were opened by the CM at the State Museum on Tuesday. The museum will remain open till 9 pm every day till January 12 in wake of the PBD. Prior to that, Majhi inaugurated the annual flower show at Ekamra Vana.

Also Read: Odisha State Museum To Remain Open Till 9 PM For Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Also Read: Annual Flower Show 2025 Opens To Public In Bhubaneswar

Putting the spotlight on rich classical dance and music of the state, three festivals – Rajarani music festival, Mukteswar Odissi dance festival and International Odissi dance festival – has begun in the city. The Mukteswar festival was opened in presence of minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.

The city is also hosting Ekamra Utsav, Adivasi Mela and Tribal Dance and Folk Art Festival at Exhibition Ground, where 20 tribal communities have set up their dummy huts and are exhibiting tribal villages, art and craft and food. Products prepared and sourced by communities are also being sold along with jewellery, handloom, utility items and crafts at tribal haat.