Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Book Festival-2025, organized by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, has become a centre of attraction for visitors at the Unit-3 Exhibition Grounds. The festival is open from 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and from 2 pm to 9 pm on other days. This year, the festival has prioritized the works of prominent freedom fighters and Saraswat literary creators, with the tagline: “Open the page, awaken the dream.”
Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, who opened the Book Festival was received by Secretary Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Dr.Bijay Ketan Upadhyay received the Honourable Guests.
Two theme pavilions built by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department have particularly garnered attention. One pavilion is dedicated to the prominent women freedom fighters of Odisha, featuring photographs of figures like Kuntala Kumari Sawat, Pansana Devi, Kishorimani Devi, Annapurna Maharana, Saaliya Bala Das, Rama Devi, Jambubati Patnaik, Paribewa, Krishna Mohanty, Malati Chaudhary, Sudhanshu Bala Hazra, Nirmala Devi, and Parvati Devi. A timely report on the contribution of these freedom fighters has also been presented.
Similarly, a theme pavilion titled “Sardar @150” has been prepared on the biography of Sardar Patel, the Iron Man of India, on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary. A statue of Sardar Patel has been installed in this pavilion, and his biography, his role in laying the foundation of an integrated India, and the merging of the states have been depicted through paintings. Among all the artworks, the painting of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat has greatly attracted the audience.
Both theme pavilions are crowded with spectators. Intellectuals and readers have praised this innovative effort by the Culture Department to pay tribute to the freedom fighters and Saraswat Sadhaks, and to make the youth aware of the biography and role of Odisha’s woman freedom fighters and the Iron Man Sardar Patel.
Today, on the third day of the Book Festival, a seminar and poetry reading program on the biographies of Odisha’s women freedom fighters was organized at the Kavi Ramakant Rath Manch with the joint support of the Odisha State Museum and the Birika Sansadla. Mrs. Bharati Pal, Director of the Odisha State Museum, attended the seminar as the chief guest. The program, presided over by Mrs. Shakuntala Dholear Singh, saw guests shedding light on the lives of women freedom fighters of Odisha and discussing how they dedicated their lives for the country’s freedom despite adverse circumstances.
It is noteworthy that the main entrance of the 7th Odisha State Book Festival has been named as Ma’ Ramadevi Entrance, the inner entrance as Santhakabi Bhimbhoi Entrance, the main stage as Kavi Ramakant Rath Manch, and the inner stage as Shaheed Baji Raut Manch. Additionally, photographs of timeless novels by prominent literary figures, titled “Odia Asmitar Pratike, Odia Hathir Garba and Gaurav” (Symbol of Odia Identity, Pride and Glory of Odia Hand), have also been displayed near the entrance of the Book Festival.