City of temples rolls out red carpet for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, is all set to host the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2025 from January 8 to 10, with several content creators and overseas Indians invited to participate in the event.
The city has been decked up to welcome the guests, with participants expressing their excitement and eagerness to explore India and connect with their roots.
Amit Kumar Senapathy said that he has been travelling all over the world and being a native of Odisha, he feels like a winner already.
"I have been travelling all over the world for the last 11 to 12 years. With respect to coming here, this was an organization, a contest that was sponsored by the Government of India and luckily we are part of that and we are very fortunate that we got an opportunity to come here and meet the people and also to look into the beautiful state of Odisha. We are from Odisha only, so that is something good- coming back and meeting the people and these are the people who are going to make us throughout the places. So looking forward to it. Seeing that the event is happening in Odisha makes me feel like I have become a winner. I can look into the airport the whole place is decked up and it's looking beautiful and even the ambience and everything it looks so beautiful," he told ANI.
The 5th Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz, which was held from 11 November - 11 December 2024, is an endeavour of the Government of India to strengthen connection with the Indian Diaspora, particularly the youth, and also to engage foreigners who are keen to learn about India.
The online quiz was conducted under two categories: i) Non-Resident Indians and ii) Persons of Indian Origin / Foreign nationals, aged between 14-50 years. In total, 1,08,876 people from 203 countries and territories participated in the quiz and thirty winners of the quiz - 15 from each category - have been invited to visit India on Bharat Ko Janiye Yatra (Know India Tour) from 8-21 January 2025.
Rashmita Senapati, another participant of the PBD, told ANI that she was excited to explore the country as a part of this visit.
"For the last 11 years, I've been living in Africa, South Africa, and now we have come from Nigeria. I work for a proctech firm which is based in London. And I came to know about Bharat ko Janiye as a reference from my husband. So we played the quiz. And while playing the quiz, we were pretty excited. And because this time, there was and all metrics were there. So we were like we cracked 30 questions. I cracked 30 questions in 102 seconds. So I was kind of sure that I will crack it. And when the call from High Commission Nigeria came, it was a very exciting moment for me. I am very excited because I've gone through the agenda. The leaders who run the nation are going to join the convention. They are also taking us to the best places in India, Taj Mahal, as well. So Konark also in Odisha is one of the high points. So I am very, very excited and looking forward to it," she told ANI.
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday arrived in Bhubaneshwar, where he appreciated the arrangements by the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Jaishankar was seen arriving at the bedecked airport with his wife Kyoko Jaishankar, and appreciated the arrangements.
"Let me tell you, it will be a great Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The Chief Minister and his whole team have made fantastic preparations. The preparations are grand and beautiful," Jaishankar told ANI.
Jaishankar anticipated it to be a successful event.
"The Chief Minister has said that the preparations are complete. So when the Chief Minister comes, I am sure that this will be a very successful and a very great Pravasi Bharatiya Divas," he said.
Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja on Sunday said 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' is an "opportunity" to showcase Odisha to the world and the state is ready for the mega event starting from January 8.
The PBD is a key initiative by the government of India. The 2025 edition will focus on the theme "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat" and aims to celebrate and strengthen the bond between India and its overseas Indian community.
(ANI)