Umarkote, 22nd Aug 2025: At Biju Patnaik Women’s College, Umarkote, the organization Ama Odisha celebrated Raksha Bandhan and the Anti-Addiction Pledge Festival with great enthusiasm.
In this program, more than 25 male members from Sahitya Ghar and 35+ women and mothers participated.
The event began with a welcome address by Lecturer Ramesh Chandra Pattnaik. On the subject of addiction prevention, social worker Ram Chandra Ram, retired bank officer Ashok Kumar Pradhan, and Sanjukta Pattnaik addressed the gathering. They highlighted the true spirit of Raksha Bandhan, inspiring brothers to stand as a lifelong shelter like a banyan tree for their sisters, while also pledging to give up intoxicants and build a healthy society.
Sanjukta Pattnaik also shared her personal life experience with addiction, which moved the audience and filled many hearts with grief for a while.
On this occasion, women participants applied sindoor, offered aalati, and tied rakhis provided by Ama Odisha to their brothers, followed by distribution of sweets.
Headmaster Naresh Chandra Pattnaik administered an oath against addiction, urging everyone not to touch intoxicants.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including former Municipal Chairman Jhadeswar Mohanty, senior lawyer Srinibas Pattnaik, Lecturer Gopal Maharana, Ashok Kumar Pradhan, Ram Chandra Ram, Additional Block Education Officer Debendra Bagh, Headmaster Nagendra Raut, Raj Kishore Nayak, Sagar Kumar Parida, Ganesh Prasad Rana, Vivekananda Pattnaik, Stalin Kumar Samantaray, as well as many members of Ama Odisha. Among the prominent women participants were Sanjukta Pattnaik, Chandarani Raju, Sujata Singh, Sita Paricha, Jhunu Panigrahi, Santasi Dalei, Sudha Das, Pushpa Samal, and Jayanti Bishoyi.
Finally, Headmaster Nagendra Kumar Raut delivered the vote of thanks.
