CHENNAI: It was a dream come true for the Utkal Association of Madras when they had the heads of Tamil Nadu and Odisha on a single dais on the 76th founding day of Odisha.N R Patnaik, secretary of the Utkal Association told City Express on Friday that this was the first time the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Tamil Nadu had shared the dais during Utkal Divas, highlighting the brotherly ties between the two states.“Utkal Divas is celebrated on April 1 and we planned it on April 6. But the celebrations were postponed and now we have both Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa attending it,” said a delighted Patnaik.The camaraderie between the states was highlighted by the fact that the programme began with Tamil and Odia invocations. Three eminent artists from Odisha, Odissi exponent Kum Kum Mohanty, founder of the Sudarsan Sand Art Institute Sudarsan Patnaik, and reputed dancer Aruna Mohanty, were honoured by Jayalalithaa. Naveen Patnaik honoured singers Vani Jairam, who has won three National Film Awards for best female playback singer, and music maestro Ilayaraja. Among the attractions of the event was the lyrical dance, which was enjoyed by both chief ministers. The dance form depicts the sailors of Odisha bidding farewell to their brides before embarking on a voyage to distant Bali. This is celebrated even today on Odisha’s coastline as the Bali Yatra when married women float illuminated boats made from plantain peels, said an organiser.Interestingly, the focus of the event was the socio-cultural ties between Odisha and Tamil Nadu.Speaking on the occasion, Tamil Nadu chief secretary and life member of Utkal Association Debendranath Sarangi highlighted the historical and close cultural ties between the states from the Chola era to the present era. Utkal Association president Khirod Kumar Jena highlighted how the Odisha community and inter-state marriages had helped to boost cultural and business ties between the states.
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