Bhubaneswar: As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sacred land of Odisha transformed into a radiant sea of devotion, peace, and cultural unity. Responding to the heartwarming call of Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi on 17 September to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, millions of citizens came together voluntarily under the Ashirvada Ra Deepa programme.
Jointly organized through the passionate leadership of Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Secretary of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, and Ms. Mansi Nimbhal, Secretary of Mission Shakti, this mega event resonated with the deep emotional heartbeats of the entire state.
A staggering total of 1,03,23,609 earthen lamps flicker simultaneously across villages, towns, and historic riversides, symbolizing hope, divine blessings, and the timeless heritage of Odisha. Every single flame carried the devotion of a people bound by shared traditions, casting away darkness and filling the night with a transcendent aura of faith and togetherness.
This breathtaking triumph was woven together by the overwhelming participation across every corner of the state. Leading the collective fervor were Ganjam with 663,929 diyas, Mayurbhanja with 658,417, and Baleshwar with 629,416, closely followed by Kalahandi lighting 599,328 flames and Katak adding 531,650. High levels of enthusiasm echoed through Sundaragada with 464,077, Puri with 460,775, Jajpur with 452,150, Kendujhara with 431,515, Kendrapada with 408,951, and Balangir with 401,059 diyas.
The divine glow extended powerfully into Anugul with 337,036, Jharsuguda with 337,367, Koraput with 337,285, Baragada with 335,114, Nayagada with 334,696, Jagatsinghpur with 334,000, Dhenkanala with 316,154, and Nabrangpur with 304,336. Deep devotion was equally matched in Bhadrak with 244,460, Sambalpur with 242,460, Rayagada with 238,719, Malkanagiri with 238,249, Khordha with 236,776, Gajapati with 205,386, Nuapada with 181,021, Subarnapur with 144,623, Deogada with 100,400, Boudha with 92,660, and Kandhamala with 61,600 diyas.
Beyond the astonishing numbers, Ashirvada Ra Deepa stands as a profound testament to the living spirit of Odia identity. The ocean of one crore three lakh twenty-three thousand six hundred and nine lights brought people together from all walks of life, blending ancient spiritual traditions with modern civic unity.
As the flickering lights illuminated courts, courtyards, temples, and streets, they illuminated the shared values and emotional bonds that define Odisha. It was not merely an event, but a spiritual symphony of a state standing together, sending a warm message of goodwill, peace, and collective pride that will echo in the cultural memory of Odisha for generations to come.