Bhubaneswar: The 78th Capital Foundation Day of Bhubaneswar was celebrated with grandeur and wide public participation across the city on Monday.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Surama Padhy, attended the main event as the chief guest and inaugurated the celebrations at Sachivalaya Marg in the presence of several dignitaries.
The day began with floral tributes to eminent personalities and the Capital Foundation Day plaque near the Assembly House. The speaker, along with public representatives and members of the celebration committee, paid homage at the site.
A ceremonial parade and torch relay formed key highlights of the morning events. The procession commenced from Lingaraj Temple and passed through key city points before reaching PMG Square. Participants included citizens, officials, and various organisations, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das said in a series of posts on X.
The chief guest received the ceremonial salute during the joint parade. Students from schools and colleges staged coordinated performances, while daredevil demonstrations added to the spectacle. The Odisha Skating Association also presented a special display.
A photo exhibition was also inaugurated by Padhy at Jayadev Bhawan. The event was organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations. The exhibition traced the city’s transformation and development over the years.
Mayor Das extended greetings to residents, describing the city as a source of pride. She urged citizens to work collectively towards making Bhubaneswar cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.
“On the occasion of the 78th Odisha Capital Foundation Day, my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all residents of Bhubaneswar. The Temple City is the pride and glory of all of us. Let us all resolve to collectively build and elevate Bhubaneswar into an even cleaner, greener, and more beautiful city,” she said.
Evening events are scheduled at Utkal Mandap, where the governor will attend the general meeting and present Capital Glory Awards. Meritorious participants from various competitions will also be felicitated, followed by cultural programmes organised by the Culture Department.
