With an anti-corruption theme, the Patha Utsav on Janpath here on Sunday put artists, performers, bureaucrats, children and general public on a mass oath-taking mode.
All in a united voice vowed to fight against the evil till the end amidst live and motivating performances by the artists with doses of patriotism and dedication for the nation.
The art forms right from the Rangoli street art to the art on display, a human chain and street plays and stand-up events organised with kids as participants raised voice against the evil practice of corruption.
Taking the lead during the inaugural session, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said the State Government is ever vigilant to root out corruption from the society and called for a massive people-based participatory approach to weed out the menace.
Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary R Balakrishnan said corruption is a two-way traffic and the person, who is helping corruption, is also equally responsible for its cancerous spread in the society.
Calling it a new patriotism to fight against corruption in the pan-Indian context, the senior bureaucrat-turned noted Indologist said through effective public movement and preventive vigilance, a sustained fight against corruption is possible.
DGP KB Singh said the Vigilance Directorate should be congratulated for the unique people-centric event in merging the anti-corruption theme with Patha Utsav and motivating thousands of people with the noble cause.
Singh requested the public to make the use of the Vigilance Helpline by dialing 1064 to lodge complaints against tainted persons and in the return contribute towards the development of the State.
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner YB Khurania called the people to take the help of the social media to bring more and more cases of corruption to the notice of the Vigilance. He also congratulated the Vigilance Directorate to organise such an innovative event through Patha Utsav to make the society corruption free.
Well-known Odia actor Sabyasachi Mishra invited people to support the effort of the Directorate of Vigilance to fight corruption in society.
The main attraction of the event and Bollywood sensation Krishna Beura spoke in the voice of Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan urged people to say no to corruption.
Ollywood actress and heartthrob Archita Sahu called for a readiness among all citizens to fight corruption as it is still rooted in the various layers of the social strata. Ollywood singer Tappu Mishra also gave a anti-corruption message through her welcome address.
Earlier, introducing the guests Vigilance Director Dr RP Sharma reiterated for the need for a corruption free society and called for more people centric participatory approach to increase the corrupt practices.
Vice Chairman BDA and BMC Commissioner Dr Krishan Kumar and Chief Vigilance Officer of Mahanadi Coalfields limited Munavar Khursheed also spoke. Among others, ADG Police Debasis Panigrahi and DIG Vigilance A Sinha were present.
During the flagging off ceremony at 6.30 am, MP Prasanna Patsani, Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, MlAs North and Central (Bhubaneswar) Priyadarshi Mishra and Bijay Mohanty, respectively, and Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena were present as guests.
Krishna Beura stole the show with his famous songs Moula meri moula, Teri yaad sath hai, Sonia in Hindi and Odia numbers Nijhum ratire and Abhimanyu. His remix number with initial lines on the evergreen Rangabati with other Hindi and Odia numbers was a big draw.
A band of Odisha Police marched through the entire 1.2 km stretch and played the music. The two kiosks by the Vigilance Directorate also attracted crowd and disseminated materials on Vigilance awareness.
Rangoli street art with anti-corruption colour and concept spread across a major portion of the Janpath by Nirmala Kruti Bikash Trust was the key attraction.