Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15 (UDN): A family from Kandhamal’s remote Daringbadi region has turned hardship into achievement, with five young members clearing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and securing admission to government medical colleges in Odisha. The story of the Naiak family begins in Sikabadi village, where 76-year-old Brushi Naiak and his 62-year-old wife Anusaya live in a modest mud-walled, asbestos-roofed house. Despite limited financial resources…
Ganesh Puja Pandal Reduced To Ashes In Fire In Sambalpur
Sambalpur, Sept. 15 (UDN): A Ganesh Puja pandal was completely destroyed after a fire broke out in the Deheripali area of Sambalpur city on Monday, sparking panic among residents. The blaze reportedly started after smoke was noticed emerging from the pandal. Within a short time, flames spread rapidly through the temporary structure, which had been decorated with cloth, thermocol and wooden materials. On receiving information,…
A Sweet, Guilt-Free Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration with Eatopia.
Ganesh Chaturthi is defined by devotion, togetherness and the unmistakable joy of modaks. More than festive sweets, modaks are shaped by hand, prepared with care and offered to Lord Ganesha with love. Every family has its own treasured recipe. Some prefer the traditional coconut filling, while others add nuts, cardamom or ingredients passed down through generations. With its #ModaksOfPureJoy campaign, Eatopia celebrates this beloved tradition while…
Manas Sahoo Celebrates Nuakhai With Vibrant Sand Animation In Puri
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15 (UDN): International sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo has extended Nuakhai greetings through a colourful sand animation created at his studio in Puri, celebrating the rich cultural traditions and spirit of togetherness associated with the festival. The artwork, themed “Nuakhai Juhar,” conveys festive wishes to Odias across the state and those living in different parts of the world. Through the vibrant creation, Sahoo…
Sudarsan Pattnaik Marks Nuakhai With Striking Sand Art On Puri Beach
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15 (UDN): Celebrated sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik has marked Nuakhai, one of Odisha’s most cherished agrarian festivals, with a vibrant sand sculpture on Puri beach. Created against the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal, the artwork brings together key elements of western Odisha’s cultural and spiritual traditions. It features a woman dressed in traditional Sambalpuri attire offering prayers, along…
Odisha’s first farmer-owned solar farm to generate power alongside crops in Koraput
Koraput, Sept. 15 (UDN): In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Odisha, farmers in Koraput are preparing to harvest electricity alongside conventional crops under an agrivoltaic farming model that combines agriculture with solar power generation. Representational Image The pilot project has been established at Kulabi panchayat under Nandpur block, where 1,735 solar panels have been installed across farmland. The project is designed to generate around 1 MW…
Nandankanan Zoo to shift five rescued orangutans to open enclosure as health improves
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15 (UDN): The five young orangutans rescued from Balasore and currently undergoing treatment at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar are set to be moved from their glass enclosure to an open enclosure as their health continues to improve. Representational Image Zoo authorities said the shift is aimed at allowing the animals to gradually become accustomed to a more natural environment while ensuring that…
Odisha steps up LPG crackdown; 8,457 cylinders seized in statewide raids
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15 (UDN): The Odisha government has intensified its crackdown on the illegal hoarding and black marketing of domestic LPG, with enforcement teams seizing 8,457 cooking gas cylinders during raids and inspections across the state. Representational Image The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department carried out inspections at 3,838 locations as part of the statewide enforcement drive aimed at checking unauthorised storage and diversion…
Relaxo Footwears Takes Employee Well-being to the Cricket Pitch with Premier League 2026
New Delhi, Sep 15: India’s footwear company, Relaxo Footwears, organised the inaugural edition of the Relaxo Premier League 2026, an intra-Relaxo cricket tournament aimed at bringing employees together while promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, teamwork and stronger workplace connections. The tournament kicked off on September 13 at the Shivaji College Sports Complex, New Delhi, bringing together six teams and 120 employee participants for a day…
India-Australia Technology Partnership Gets a Fresh Push on Cybersecurity
New Delhi, Sep 15: India and Australia are stepping up cooperation in cybersecurity and critical technologies as both countries look to build a safer and more resilient digital environment and create new opportunities in the technology sector. The growing partnership comes at a time when digital services have become an essential part of everyday life and business operations. From financial services and telecommunications to government…