How Bhubaneswar got ready to welcome 5,000 NRIs for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Odisha is hosting the PBD, organised by the External Affairs Ministry, for the first time. It commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915, after which he joined the freedom struggle. It also celebrates the contributions of the overseas Indian community, and this year’s theme is “Diaspora’s contribution to a Viksit Bharat”.

The other major international events hosted by Bhubaneswar were the two Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023 during the tenure of the previous Biju Janata Dal government. With the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the new BJP government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that its first major global event is a grand affair.

“The Chief Minister (Mohan Charan Majhi) and his team have made fantastic arrangements. The preparations are grand and beautiful. I am sure this will be a very successful and great Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar,” said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who reached Bhubaneswar on Monday evening.

The three-day event will be held from Wednesday to Friday.

Giving the city a facelift for the mega event, over 100 local artists were hired to spruce up the city walls with traditional and modern art.

The state government has also activated a central command control centre and announced a dedicated helpline number, 1929, to ensure effective coordination and quick response for attendees. Five double-decker buses have also been procured to augment transport facilities.

The state tourism department has identified at least 30 spots near Bhubaneswar for attendees to visit. Coordinators, guides and sanitary workers have been deployed here.

As a visit to the 12th Century Puri Jagannath Temple is on top of the itinerary of many NRIs attending the event, the tourism department has been facilitating special darshans.

Bhubaneswar is also hosting several city festivals, including musical concerts, flower shows, and tribal exhibitions as part of its offerings to PBD attendees.

Security, law and order, and smooth traffic management are the priority, with around 90 platoons of state police and 12 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed in the city.

Officials said that hosting the event in a grand manner is part of the state government’s efforts to overhaul Odisha’s image and draw investment. A special session is also being planned for this purpose, officials said.

The PBD Convention will have five thematic plenary sessions – Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World; Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills; Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development; Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti; and Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection and Belongingness.

It will also have four mega exhibitions – Vishwaroop Ram, to showcase the epic of Ramayana; Diaspora’s Contribution to Technology and Viksit Bharat; Spread and Evolution of Indian diaspora in the world, with a focus on showcasing rare documents of people who had migrated from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman; and Heritage and Culture of Odisha.