: Mumbai/ Bhubaneswar, December 01, 2021

From long coastlines to large forest areas with a thriving wildlife population, two unique cultures that can boost of indigenous arts, dance-forms, music, architectural wonders - Maharashtra and Odisha have a lot of commonalities. This has been expressed by dignitaries from both the states in a webinar on "Socio-cultural bond between Odisha and Maharashtra" on Tuesday. Dr. Bipin Bihari Mishra, President of World Odisha Society (India Chapter) iterates the same view when he says, "The brotherhood between the people of Maharashtra and the people of Odisha is unique". "Culturally and traditionally both Maharashtra and Odisha are deeply connected", added Dr. Mishra in the hour-long discussions on both the states. Notably, Maharashtra and Odisha are paired states in the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme, which is being run by the Central Government to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing. 

In his opening remarks, Shri Rajinder Chaudhury, Additional Director General of PIB in Odisha said, "India is the perfect example of Unity and Diversity. In every 50kms, we have seen change in language & culture but yet we are one". Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is a beautiful initiative in realising and reiterating the cultural and traditional bonding between each and every Indian, said Shri  Chaudhury.  

The whole concept of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat needs to be taken to everyone, feels all the dignitaries. In this programme, the states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connect in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.

The idea of a sustained and structured cultural connect between people of different regions was mooted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the Rashtriya Ekta Divas held on 31st October, 2015, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.Prime Minister propounded that cultural diversity is a joy that ought to be celebrated through mutual interaction & reciprocity between people of different States and UTs so that a common spirit of understanding resonates throughout the country. Every State and UT in the country would be paired with another State/UT for a time period, during which they would carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc.

The webinar has been jointly organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Regional Outreach Bureau (ROB) offices in Odisha and Maharashtra. These media units come under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Dignitaries who participated in the webinar also include Shri Akhil Kumar Mishra, Director of ROB in Bhubaneswar and Dr. Rahul Tidke, Deputy Director of PIB in Maharashtra.  

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RT/SC/PM

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