The 66th Republic Day was celebrated with pomp and gaiety in Dhenkanal on Monday.Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy hoisted the national flag and viewed a united paraded by 40 platoons at the Main Stadium here. Addressing the public, Maharathy announced that a second agricultural university would come up in the State soon. He also assured that the State Government would constitute a separate mission for more production and preservation of potatoes and onions to meet the scarcity of the consumers.
Earlier, the Minister garlanded portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan, Sahid Minar, Dr BR Ambedkar, Utkalmani Gopabandhu and Baji Rout at the Bus Stand Civil Court Chhak, Kacheri Chhak, Town Hall and Baji Chhak.
Besides, blood donation camp, distribution of fruits to indoor patients in hospitals, quiz competition, distribution of sweets to differently-abled, health camps, hockey and football match and cultural programmes were organised by different organisations to mark the occasion.