Bhubaneswar: Odisha is observing Gandhi Jayanti on Friday with various programmes organised across the state to mark the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Government institutions, social organisations and local communities are paying tribute to the Father of the Nation and remembering his role in India’s freedom movement.
Gandhi Jayanti Observed In Sambalpur
In Sambalpur, special programmes are being held at the Gandhi Temple in Bhatra. The district administration and representatives of various organisations offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Several cultural programmes are also being organised at the temple premises as part of the Gandhi Jayanti observance.
Astaranga’s Salt Satyagraha Remembered
The occasion also brings attention to Odisha’s contribution to the Salt Satyagraha and the freedom movement.
In the Astaranga region of Puri district, memorial pillars at Kuhudi, Olangar and Khandasahi continue to commemorate the historic movement against British rule.
Following Mahatma Gandhi’s call for civil disobedience, thousands of people participated in the salt-making movement in the region. On May 21, 1930, the salt law was violated at Kuhudi near Astaranga under the leadership of Pandit Nilakantha Das.
The British authorities responded by declaring salt-making illegal and using force against the participants. A lathi charge and arrests followed, while the Satyagrahis continued their protest. Two people were reportedly killed during the British crackdown, but the movement continued despite the repression.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti Also Observed
October 2 also marks the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
The day is therefore observed nationally as an occasion to remember the contributions of both Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Across Odisha, programmes and commemorations are being organised to pay tribute to their contributions to the country.
