District-Level Kabi Jayadeva Jayanti Celebration Held
Puri, 25/4: The district-level Kabi Jayadeva Jayanti celebration was held this evening at the Sanskruti Bhavan. The event was organized with the support of the District Administration and the District Cultural Council, and was sponsored by the Shri Jayadeva Foundation.
As the chief guest, Shri Prafulla Tripathy, Editor of the Shri Jayadeva Foundation, spoke about the unique contributions of poet Jayadeva. He highlighted that the Gita Govinda is presented in all temples, describing it as an extraordinary creation of love and devotion. He mentioned that Gita Govinda is a composition filled with simplicity and grace. Its sweetness, sanctity, and brilliance have made it immortal through the ages.
Presiding over the event, Additional District Collector (Administration) Pradeep Kumar Sahu stated that both Jayadeva and Gita Govinda are eternal. He emphasized the inseparable connection between Lord Jagannath and Gita Govinda, noting that the Lord is so fond of it that He listens to it before going to sleep.
He further remarked that since Jayadeva was born on Akshaya Tritiya, his fame remains eternal and undiminished.
Other dignitaries present included Executive Officer Saroj Kumar Swain, Assistant Director of the Tourism Department Saroj Kant Pradhan, litterateur Asit Mohanty, former Cultural Officer Prafulla Chandra Samantray, and Shri Jayadeva Foundation member Chakradhar Mahapatra. They all shared their thoughts on Lord Jagannath, Jayadeva, and Gita Govinda, stating that today’s Jayanti celebration has become an awakening.
They recalled how there was once an attempt to prove that Jayadeva did not belong to Odisha, but now, based on authenticity and evidence, it is firmly established that Jayadeva was indeed from Odisha.
District Culture Officer Hemanta Behera welcomed everyone and provided an overview of the event. The stage was conducted by Shyam Prakash Senapati. A cultural program was presented afterward. Finally, Foundation member Jatadhari Mishra offered the vote of thanks.
