Baripada: While the whole of India is celebrating the 79th Independence Day this year, this holy national day was celebrated with joy and happiness at Baripada, Mayurbhanj District Sadar Mahkuma. The said District Level Independence Day Ceremony-2025 was organized by the Information and Public Relations Department on behalf of the District Administration at Reserve Police Ground, Baripada. In the program of this holy day, Hon’ble Minister of Industries, Skill Development and Vocational Education Department of Government of Odisha, Mr. Sampad Chandra Swayuk participated as the chief guest and formally hoisted the national flag and took salute in the joint parade. 45 teams including the police band participated in the said district level parade. On this occasion, the chief guest first saluted the national flag which symbolizes the triad of strength, courage and sacrifice/peace, truth/prosperity and paid his devout tribute to the immortal souls of the freedom fighters. Later, the Hon’ble Minister congratulated the people of the district on celebrating the holy day and in his speech remembered the revolutionary freedom fighters and politicians of the country, state and Mayurbhanj district and highlighted their selfless patriotism and extraordinary sacrifices. He also mentioned the contribution of the revolutionary fighters of Mayurbhanj in the freedom struggle. On this occasion, the minister mentioned various public welfare schemes and development projects of the government and said that the government is always striving for the material development of the tribal-dominated Mayurbhan district. In order to realize the vision of a developed Odisha and a developed India in the near future, the Prime Minister said that we have to move forward with new resolutions based on the basic mantra of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Bevvas and Sabka Effort. Later the chief guest, senior freedom fighter Shri Chakradhar felicitated Pradhan in northern attire and felicitated M.K. P. K. Girls High School (Guide), Junior Red Cross awarded shields to Balangi Girls High School and St. Mary’s Convent School (Boys) teams in Civilian. All the programs of this district level national festival were held under the direct supervision of District Collector Mr. Hemkant Say and District Security Officer Mr. Barun Guntupali. Honorable Maharaja Shri Pravinchandra Bhanjdeo, Honorable Maharani Rashmi-Rajylakshmi Bhanjdeo, Rajkumari Mrinalika Manjari Bhanjdeo, Additional District Magistrate (General), Shri Netrananda Mallij, Additional District Magistrate Mr. Ishwar Chandra Kashisha Baksi, I. A. S. (Retired) Chief Development Officer of the District Council, Shri Dharmanand Behera Magar, and various departmental officers of the district level were present. Among other awards, Baripada Saraswati Children’s Temple student Parol Priyadharini (No. 575) and Tikarpada High School student Himanshu Hiranmay Dhir (No. 575) who secured the highest number in the district in this year’s high school certificate examination and Suman Mahapatra of Udla Government Girls High School ranked 47th among all Dibang students in the district and 427th in the boys category. Ayushman Behera of the school, Dalani Murmu, a student of Government Scheduled Castes and Tribes School, Kulliana, was the highest 88 in the High School Certificate Examination among Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes schools in the district. They were awarded for passing with 83 percent marks. Similarly, national sports festival rugby champion Leelamuni Hasda, runners-up in football Sahani Cup Nilesh Thiga, swimming Ranjan Hasda were given the best player award. Similarly, Anu Ranjan Swayum, Diptashanhu Behera and Devarshi Behera were awarded by the administration for their great service by helping the injured person in a road accident and taking them to the hospital at the right time. In the morning after the parade ground event, the chief guest of the day distributed fruits and biscuits to the students of Specially Handicapped School at Mandal Jail, Baripada Lakshmi Poshi. Fruits and biscuits were distributed to the inmates at Gopbandhu Balasram on behalf of the District Social Security Officer, Mayurbhanj, on behalf of the District Emergency Officer (Red Cross Branch) and on behalf of Inr Huil Baripada at the District Head Hospital. Later, the Chief Guest visited the Industrial Training Center at Taktpur, visited various departments and discussed various problems of the center with the authorities and trainees. In the afternoon, a friendly volleyball match was organized by the police administration and Ma Kichkaswari Volleyball Academy at the police ground and a friendly football match was held between District 11 and Mayurbhanj Athletic Association on behalf of Mayurbhanj Athletic Association at Baripada Stadium under the supervision of sports officials. In the evening, prizes were distributed to the contestants in various competitions under the auspices of the District Information and Public Relations Department at the local Martyrs Memorial Bhavan and cultural programs based on patriotism were presented by the students of various educational institutions on behalf of the District Culture Department. In the said program, Upazilapal Baripada, District Education Officer, District Information and Public Relations Officer, District Culture Officer, SDPO, DPC attended the event as the chief guest and distributed prizes to the contestants of various district level competitions held on Independence Day. Mr. Vikas Ranjan Mohanty, District Information and Public Relations Officer of the Government of Odisha, and Subhish Naik, District Culture Officer, on behalf of the Culture Department, conducted it and Shrikant Behera, Chitha Soren, Trilochangiri, Ravi Naik, Leejat Pradhan and Solaray Singh of the office assisted in the management of the program.