Bhubaneswar: The state-level initiation ceremony for the 2026 academic year, known as Prabesha Utsav and Khadi Chuan, was celebrated with great fervor at the Government Higher Primary School near Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, officiating the event, highlighted how the celebration of education has reached every village and street corner of the state, effectively motivating parents to enroll their children in schools.
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister personally guided young students through their first writing lesson on slates and chalk, encouraging them to write the words for mother and father. Adopting the role of a compassionate mentor, he engaged the children with friendly questions about their families and daily routines to create a welcoming and fear-free environment for their educational journey.
As part of the day’s activities, the Chief Minister visited exhibitions for the Nipun Odisha and Padhiba Gadhiba Odisha campaigns, which showcased innovative educational materials designed to improve learning outcomes. He also spent time at a drawing stall where he praised the artistic talents of the young students and received hand-drawn pictures as gifts from them.
To support their academic start, he distributed educational assistance kits to the new students. The Chief Minister reiterated that the Khadi Chuan tradition is a sacred part of Odia culture that the government has formally adopted to ensure that no child in the state remains deprived of an education.
Looking toward the future of education in the state, the Chief Minister announced that approximately 500,000 invitation letters were distributed this year to reach a target of 100% school enrollment. He also noted that under the National Education Policy, Anganwadis would be progressively integrated into Shishu Batikas to strengthen early childhood education.
Addressing the media and teaching community, he called for a collective effort to turn this education drive into a state-wide mass movement. He urged teachers to treat their students with parental affection and to remain dedicated to identifying and nurturing each child’s unique talents.
The event concluded with the flagging off of an Education Awareness Chariot intended to spread the message of literacy across the region. Several high-ranking officials and dignitaries attended the program, including School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, and Ekamara Shri Babu Singh, MLA Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar-Central MLA Shri Anant Narayan Jena, Khurda MLA Shri Prashant Jagadev, Secretary School & Mass Education, Shri N Thirumala Naik.
Their presence underscored the government’s unified commitment to establishing education as the state’s most valuable asset and ensuring a bright future for every child in Odisha.