State

Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur: People of western Odisha Tuesday celebrated Nuakhai, a major agrarian festival, with families offering the first harvest of the season to presiding deities and seeking blessings from elders. The festival, which is predominantly observed in Sambalpur, Baragada, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Debagada and...

By Bijay Panda, OP Ganijang: The Government Primary School at Belda, Mundasahi under Ganijang panchayat in Bhadrak district’s Banta block is functioning amid severe infrastructural shortcomings, with 119 students forced to study in just two classrooms. The school lacks adequate classrooms, a storeroom, office, toilets...

Raurkela: A major tourism push at Vedvyas and Khandadhar could turn Sundaragada into a stronger tourism hub, with improved infrastructure at the two destinations expected to draw more visitors, create jobs and stimulate the local economy, tourism stakeholders said. Vedvyas and Khandadhar are among the...

Pottangi: A google search describing dhemsa as a traditional dance of Andhra Pradesh has triggered resentment in Koraput district, with tribal groups and political leaders alleging that the region’s cultural identity is being misrepresented. Dhemsa, widely performed by tribal communities across the undivided Koraput region...

Bantala: A 45-yearold man died after getting trapped inside a Hume pipe while bathing in a nullah during 10th-day ritual of his brother-in-law in Anugola district. The deceased was identified as Bimal Kumar Sahu of Jukubu village. Sahu had come to Tumuni Telitaila village under...

PRABHATA KUMAR PANIGRAHI, OP Khordha: Several tourist and heritage sites in Khordha district are facing neglect, with poor infrastructure and lack of basic amenities discouraging visitors. Despite being accorded tourism status, many of these destinations continue to await development. Barunei Hill, a mute witness to...

TRINATH MOHANTY, OP Bhubaneswar: Special Task Force (STF), which is investigating the alleged trafficking of five baby orangutans rescued from a forested area in Baleshwar district, suspects that more than 16 agents were involved in the racket, indicating that the network extended beyond Dighabased Grand...

ARINDAM GANGULY, OP Bhubaneswar: Turning his bicycle into a vehicle for environmental awareness, climate activist and cyclist Bapi Gochhayat embarked on a 180- km bicycle ride from Paradip to Puri to promote cleanliness, responsible waste management and environmental protection. The three-day awareness ride began from...

Bhubaneswar: Skywatchers in Bhubaneswar and several parts of Odisha were treated to a spectacular celestial sight Monday evening as the bright planet Venus appeared alongside the Moon near the horizon, creating a striking visual spectacle. The astronomical event involved a lunar occultation of Venus, in...

Bhubaneswar: The 24th Annual Convocation of NIT Rourkela was held recently, with Metallurgical and Materials Engineering student Manas Nayak receiving the ‘Dr Bansidhar Panda Gold Medal’ for 2026. NITI Aayog Member Abhay Karandikar attended the convocation as the chief guest. Congratulating Nayak on the achievement,...