Bhubaneswar: A ‘Heritage Marathon’ was organised in Bhubaneswar on Sunday as part of the ongoing Odia Pakshya celebrations, aiming to promote awareness about Odisha’s rich cultural heritage among citizens, especially the youth.
The marathon, organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Services, began early morning from the historic Mukteswar Temple in Ekamra Kshetra and concluded at the Rajarani Temple, covering key heritage and city landmarks along the route.
Participants ran through prominent locations including Rameswar Temple, Vivekananda Marg, Utkal Kanika Galleria Mall, Lewis Road, BJB College and Rabi Talkies Square, highlighting the city’s cultural and urban landscape.
More than a thousand participants, including athletes, youth, Divyangjan and local residents, took part in the event. Officials and participants also took a collective pledge to protect and promote Odisha’s heritage and monuments.
Chandan Samal secured the first position in the marathon, followed by Siddharth Kumar Mishra in second place and Vijay Agrawal in third. The winners were felicitated and awarded medals, while all participants were also recognised with medals for their participation.
Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, who attended as the chief guest, said the marathon was not just a sporting event but an initiative to connect the younger generation with Odisha’s heritage.
“Our ancient temples and monuments are symbols of Odia identity, and their preservation is our moral responsibility,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj in promoting such initiatives to bridge the gap between youth and the state’s cultural legacy.
Senior officials from the Sports and Youth Services Department, including Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia and Additional Secretaries Ashok Kumar Panda and Bijay Kumar Swain, were present at the event.
Olympian Anuradha Biswal and Odia film actor Sivani Sangita also attended the programme, adding to the significance of the event.
