State

SUMAN MOHANTY, OP Nestled within a centuries-old bamboo forest, the Kantabaunsuni Devi shrine in Damanjodi of Koraput district stands as a striking symbol of the ancient tradition of nature worship deeply rooted in the region’s tribal and indigenous cultures. This unique, roofless shrine— where a...

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly Tuesday passed a resolution to observe Odia Pakhya, a 14-day cultural festival, from April 1 across the state. The initiative aims to reconnect people with Odisha's rich cultural heritage and traditions during the fortnight, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi...

Boinda: A wildfire that has engulfed the Kenchuanali forest under Dhandatopa forest range of Thakurgarh police limits in Angul district is showing no sign of subsiding, even as the Forest department is yet to take effective measures to douse the raging blaze. The blaze has...

Morada: At least 14 schoolgirls fell ill after consuming food at their hostel in Mayurbhanj district, Monday. The incident occurred at the Government Upper Primary School in Bhaliadiha under Morada block. The affected students were admitted to Kisantandi Community Health Centre in Baramail for treatment....

Talcher: The famed annual yatra of Talcher’s presiding deity, Goddess Hingula, revered as a form of fire, will begin Tuesday, with the sacred site for the rituals already identified to the east of the temple. According to tradition, Patabari festival, also known as Nabakalebara of...

Deogarh: The Orissa High Court has directed the state government to reinstate Deogarh Municipality chairperson Shanti Manjari Dei, who was removed from office earlier this year. In its order, the court held that the state government had acted unlawfully in removing Dei from her post...

Bhawanipatna: Police have filed a petition in the JMFC court in Madanpur Rampur seeking an arrest warrant against Durga Prasad Mohanty, husband of BJD MLA Manorama Mohanty and chairman of Narla block in Kalahandi district, in connection with a case involving alleged death threats to...

Rourkela: In a boost to anti-Maoist operations, a woman Maoist cadre active in the Saranda forest surrendered before Rourkela police Monday. The surrendered cadre, a Group B member of the Anmol team, laid down arms in the presence of Western Range DIG Brijesh Rai and...

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance has arrested a sub-treasury employee in Nayagarh district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from a pensioner to process a pension case. The accused, Saroj Kumar Sahu, a senior assistant in the Khandapada sub-treasury office, was caught red-handed while taking...

Chhendipada: The district administration in Angul was forced to step back in the face of a large public protest against coal transportation through Kosala village under Chhendipada police limits. Villagers have been staging a continuous roadside sit-in along the state highway for more than 23...