Bhubaneswar, Mar 3: Panchayati Raj Divas will not be celebrated on March 5 but on April 24 from this year. Biju Patnaik's birth anniversary on March 5 will be celebrated in a big way but not as a holiday.

Notably, there has been discrepancy in celebration of Panchayati Raj Divas in Odish and the country. While March 5 is celebrated as Panchayati Raj Divas in Odisha, National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated on 24th April every year.

At the National level, Panchayat representatives from different states are given awards, Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Awards, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme Awards are also given away.

The Odisha government has decided to celebrate Panchayati Raj Divas on April 24 instead of March 5. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved the proposal in this regard.

However, Legendary Biju Patnaik's birthday on March 5 will be celebrated in a grand way. However, the day will not be observed as a public holiday.