Uttar Pradesh's Keshav Prasad Maurya to be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of Odisha Parv-2026.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya attended the inaugural ceremony of ‘Odisha Parv-2026’ as the chief guest at the Deendayal Hastshilp Vidyalaya, Trade Facilitation Centre, and Crafts Museum in Bada Lalpur, Varanasi. He witnessed captivating performances by folk artists from Odisha and thanked them while encouraging their efforts. The Deputy Chief Minister remarked that hosting the Odisha Parv in Kashi is a matter of pride for us. Kashi is the cultural capital of the world and the sacred city of Baba Vishwanath, while Odisha is the land of faith, art, and glorious traditions associated with Lord Jagannath. This confluence of Kashi and Odisha further strengthens India's spiritual and cultural unity. He noted that devotees from Uttar Pradesh have been visiting Puri Dham for centuries, just as devotees from Odisha have been coming to Kashi to seek the blessings of Baba Vishwanath.
Shri Maurya stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the country the mantra of "Development as well as Heritage" (*Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi*). Under the 'double-engine' BJP governments, the country's major religious and cultural sites have witnessed unprecedented development. The construction of the grand Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya after a 500-year wait, the development of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and the expansion of facilities at pilgrimage sites like Mahakal and Somnath are all outcomes of this very resolve. This is propelling India toward new heights in the tourism sector. He highlighted that Odisha’s Odissi dance, Pattachitra art, Sambalpuri-Kotpad textiles, and silver filigree work constitute its rich cultural identity. The 32 stalls at the Odisha Parv showcase a diverse range of handicrafts, handlooms, and traditional cuisines. Much like Uttar Pradesh’s ‘One District-One Product’ scheme, such events play a vital role in connecting local artisans, women's self-help groups, youth, and rural entrepreneurs with markets. The Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister stated that the 'double-engine' government is continuously working towards women's empowerment and a bright future for the youth, alongside providing basic amenities such as food, housing, electricity, sanitation, healthcare, and employment to the poor. Targeting the Congress party, Shri Maurya remarked that disrespecting 'Vande Mataram' on Independence Day amounts to an insult to the nation's freedom fighters and martyrs. He noted that while the Congress weakened the country through the politics of appeasement and division, India is now advancing under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, embracing development, national pride, and its heritage.
The event was attended by Smt. Pravati Parida (Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister, Odisha), Shri Jaiveer Singh (Hon'ble Minister), Shri Anil Rajbhar (Hon'ble Minister), Shri Ashok Chaurasia (Regional President, Kashi Region), Shri Ashok Tiwari (Mayor of Kashi), Shri Pradeep Agrahari (City President), Shri Ramsakal Patel (District President, BJP), Smt. Poonam Maurya (District Panchayat President), Shri Kaushalendra Patel (Former Mayor of Kashi), Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi (Advisor to the Hon'ble Chief Minister), Shri Amrit Abhijat (Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism), Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar (Secretary, Government of India), Dr. Vijay Ketan Upadhyay (Secretary, Government of Odisha), Shri Dipankar Mahapatra (Director, Government of Odisha), Shri Balwant Singh (Commissioner, Tourism), Dr. J.K. Mohanty (Chairperson, FICCI), and other members.
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