Odisha Day 2026: 5 lesser-known facts about the state

Odisha Day

Odisha Day 2026, also called Utkal Dibasa or Utkal Divas, is observed on April 1 to mark the formation of the state of Odisha based on language in 1936

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Uniqueness

It is the first state in India to be created on the basis of language in the British era, as it was a part of the Bengal Presidency and later Bihar-Odisha state

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Last king of Odisha

Mukunda Dev of the Chalukya Dynasty was the last Hindu king of Odisha, but was killed in the battle of Gohiratkiri, when it was taken over by Bengal Sultanate

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Change to Odisha and Odia

While most people know it as Orissa, it was officially changed to Odisha in 2011, and language was changed from Oriya to Odia

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Capital of Odisha

While Cuttack was the old capital of Odisha, the new capital of the state has been designated as Bhubaneshwar since 1948

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