Odisha Parv Lights Up JLN Stadium, CM Rekha Gupta Calls Odia Community Her ‘Extended Family’

‘Odisha Parv is a symbol of cultural unity and a way to stay connected to our roots,’ says CM

‘Around 1.5 million Odia families in Delhi are safe and their needs are being taken care of,’ says Chief Minister

New Delhi, March 2026 : Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta on Saturday attended the ‘Odisha Parv-2026’ celebration at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium along with Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister extended warm greetings to the Odia community living in Delhi and praised the event as a vibrant celebration of Odisha’s rich culture, traditions, and spiritual heritage.

She said it was a matter of pride and happiness that the culture, art, music, dance, and traditions of Odisha were being showcased in such a grand manner in the national capital. According to her, Odia families living in Delhi remain deeply connected to their roots, cultural heritage, and their homeland.

Congratulating the organisers, Smt. Rekha Gupta noted that Odisha Parv, which has been held every year since 2017, has now completed nearly a decade of its journey. She said the Odia community in Delhi eagerly waits for this festival throughout the year because it is not just a cultural celebration but also a meaningful way for people to stay connected with their traditions and identity.

The Chief Minister said she felt fortunate to have the opportunity to address the Odia community in Delhi from the stage and described them as part of her extended family. Cultural events like these, she said, strengthen India’s spirit of unity in diversity.

Sharing a personal experience, Gupta said that when she assumed office as the Chief Minister of Delhi, she first travelled to Odisha to seek blessings of Lord Jagannath. She also participated with devotion in the Jagannath Rath Yatra organised in Delhi and took part in the sacred ritual of “Chhera Pahara,” following the traditional customs associated with the yatra.

Gupta said nearly 1.5 million people in Delhi are connected to Odisha, reflecting the true character of the capital where people from every state and culture live together. Delhi, she said, welcomes everyone with an open heart and gives every resident the confidence that the city belongs to them.

She also reassured people in Odisha that their family members living in Delhi are safe and that the Delhi government is attentive to their needs and concerns. The Chief Minister added that the Delhi government had, for the first time, celebrated Utkal Divas at the official level in a grand manner to honour the community.

Rekha Gupta further said that Lord Jagannath is not only a centre of faith for the people of Odisha but is also worshipped with deep devotion by people from different communities in Delhi. Rath Yatras dedicated to the deity are organised in the capital as well, and she acknowledged the efforts of those who continue to carry forward this tradition.

She praised Odisha’s rich cultural legacy, including its art, literature, music, folk dances, and history, saying the state strengthens India’s cultural unity through its diverse traditions.

The Chief Minister also noted that Odisha currently has a “double-engine government” — with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji leading the government at the Centre and a new government in the state — which she said is giving fresh momentum to Odisha’s development. She expressed confidence that this progress would translate into growth and prosperity for every citizen of the state.

Extending her best wishes for Odisha Parv-2026, Gupta said the art, culture, and traditions of Odisha are invaluable treasures of India. Events like these, she added, further strengthen the spirit of cultural diversity and unity across the country.