Belgium Odia Association hosts first-ever Utkal Divas and Holi celebration in Brussels

Brussels: On March 23, the Belgium Odia Association organised its inaugural Utkala Divas and Holi celebration in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

Debasish Prusty, the deputy chief of mission in the Indian Embassy of Belgium, inaugurated the event.

The event, marked by the true spirit of Utkal Divas, featured a variety of cultural programmes, songs and dance performances, showcasing the essence of Odisha. Over 60 Odia families enthusiastically participated in this historic event, which signifies the first Utkal Divas celebration in Belgium.

The cultural festivities started with the recital and dance performance of Odisha’s anthem ‘Bande Utkala Janani’, followed by Odissi dance performances, popular Odia and Sambalpuri songs and classic Odia cinema songs. Both kids and elders actively participated in various activities, including kids’ games and a fashion show/ramp walk. The event concluded with the celebration of Holi.

Established in 2021 by a small group of Odia families, the Belgium Odia Association aims to unite all Odia families in Belgium and foster strong networking among its members. With a vision to celebrate Odia culture while living as Non-Resident Odias (NRO) in Belgium, the association also aims to promote Odia culture among fellow Indians, Belgians and other expats in Belgium.