Bhubaneswar, Apr 1: Paying obeisance to Lord Jagannath on Odisha Divas, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that Delhi would celebrate the Odisha Formation Day formally on April 1 every year from next year.

This means that April 1 will figure as Odisha Divas on the Delhi government's calendar every year starting in 2026.

According to the information, the Delhi Chief Minister visited the Jagannath Temple at Hauz Khas and offered prayers today. Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, local MP Banshuri Swaraj, and local MLA Satish Upaddhyaya accompanied her. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his wife Mrudula Pradhan were also present.

On the occasion, Gupta conveyed her greetings to the people of Odisha and asserted that her government would provide all support to Odia people residing in Delhi.

"Greetings to the Odia people on the auspicious occasion of Odisha Divas. I am very happy to see Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra for a second time in seven days. I offered prayers to the Trinity in Puri Shreemandir during my visit to Odisha to pay tributes to former Minister Dr Debendra Pradhan," said Gupta.

The Delhi Chief Minister said his government would formally celebrate Odisha Divas from the next year, given the presence of a large number of Odia people in the national capital.

About 14 lakh Pravasi Odias are living in the national capital, and of them, about 8 lakh are voters. They played a key role in the BJP's victory in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections.

Earlier, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had expressed her gratitude to the Odias in Delhi. Jagannath Temple, Hauz Khas authorities thanked the Chief Minister for visiting the temple.

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