The Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS) in collaboration with Orissa Sanskrit Academy celebrated the Sanskrit Day here on August 25. The meeting was presided over by Sanskrit Academy president Prof GK Dash.
Senior journalist Sugyan Choudhury, eminent Sanskrit scholar Arun Kumar Upadhyaya and former Principal, Maharshi College Dr BK Swain were guests of honour. The programme was anchored by Mihir Kumar Mishra.
AYOS director Dr Indulata Das, in her introductory speech, said Sanskrit is the soul, the identity of Bharat. Dr Swain said Odisha is the only State where Sanskrit is taught as MIL. Sugyan Chaudhury said Sanskrit is the language of perfection.
Arun Upadhyaya said Sanskrit is the language which has tied the nation together as Sanskrit is present in all the languages of the country. Prof GK Dash said Sanskrit deserves more importance in the educational curriculum.
There was a session of recitation in which the audience participated actively. The session was presided over by Dr Pramod Ch Mishra.
Dr NP Dash was guest of honour. In this session, almost all those present recited memorised Veda mantras, Sanskrit Stotras of various gods and Slokas from Sanskrit texts. Students of AYOS impressed the audience by reciting Siva Stotra, Sri Sukta, Gita Slokas, etc. Even small schoolchildren recited Slokas of Gita from their memory.
The third session was “Swabhimata Satra” or the session of opinion in which Prof Pyarimohan Pattanaik, Prof Lalita Kumar Sahu and Dr Simachala Panda were guests.
The guests and the audience expressed their views about development of Sanskrit. Barring one or two exceptions, all the speeches were delivered in Sanskrit.