Odisha CM Majhi launches Har Ghar Tiranga drive, urges 4.5 crore to hoist flag
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday, 9 August formally launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign in Bhubaneswar, coinciding with August Kranti Diwas, calling on all 4.5 crore residents of the state to hoist the national flag across every home, school, office, village, and panchayat from 9 August to 17 August.
The Launch and What It Entailed
The event featured a colourful padayatra (foot march) through Bhubaneswar, with students from schools and colleges, Scouts and Guides, NCC, and NSS volunteers marching in formation carrying the Tiranga. Cultural troupes from across Odisha performed traditional folk dances and art, lending a regional flavour to the national occasion. CM Majhi, alongside dignitaries, prominent athletes, and thousands of students, joined the procession as chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' rang through the streets.
What the Chief Minister Said
Paying tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs from Odisha, Majhi declared: 'The national flag Tiranga is not merely an amalgamation of three colours; rather, it is a symbol of the self-respect, pride, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Saffron represents courage and sacrifice, white represents peace and truth, green represents prosperity, and the Ashoka Chakra in the middle teaches us to continuously move forward on the path of duty.'
He also invoked the legacy of the Quit India Movement, which was launched from August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on 9 August 1942, calling it a defining moment that gave fresh momentum to India's freedom struggle.
Eco-Friendly Flag Drive and Plastic Ban
In a notable directive, the Chief Minister issued a strong call to completely boycott plastic flags and use only cloth flags during the campaign — positioning the drive as both a patriotic and an environmental initiative. This aligns with a broader national push to make Independence Day celebrations more sustainable.
Message to Odisha's Youth
Addressing the state's youth and Gen-Z generation, Majhi warned of what he described as external forces and the misuse of social media attempting to mislead young people, alongside the negative influence of drugs. 'Those invisible malicious forces will never succeed in their motives,' he said, urging young Odias to place patriotism above all else.
Odisha's Role in Viksit Bharat 2047
The Chief Minister asserted that Odisha's contribution would be 'the most decisive' in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat - 2047'. He credited the state's farmers, labourers, youth, and self-reliant women as the core drivers of Odisha's emergence as a major engine of national economic and industrial development. He also called upon citizens to honour the families of soldiers and police personnel serving the country.