Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj, a premier socio-cultural organisation of Odias, celebrated Odia Bhasha Divas on Wednesday.
The day is celebrated to commemorate issuance of gazette notification by the Centre recognising Odia as a classical language March 11, 2014. It is the sixth Indian language to be conferred the classical status after Sanskrit, Kannad, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
Noted author and linguist Gajanan Mishra, Telugu poet Ramatirtha, Sahitya Academy Awardee Punyaprabha Devi, playwright R.P. Sahu, Samaj president and former Commissioner Customs & Excise S.C. Choudhury, former president J.K. Nayak, and writer Aravinda Das spoke on the occasion.
The function was conducted by Arun Das and Surendra Behera. Cultural secretary Seema Mishra proposed a vote of thanks.