Over 600 Paikas perform martial arts in Bhubaneswar procession
The march marked the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram as part of state-wide celebrations in Odisha.
More than 600 Paika martial artists participated in a grand procession through the streets of Bhubaneswar on Saturday, 7 November 2026. According to Pragativadi, the event marked the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram.
The procession was organised by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department and the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi. It began at Ram Mandir and ended at Rabindra Mandap.
Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj joined the march on foot. Suraj praised the Paika community for preserving the state's historical heritage and described Vande Mataram as a symbol of national pride and self-respect.
Women from traditional Paika families participated in the march, performing swordplay and martial skill demonstrations in customary attire. Ekamra MLA Babu Singh felicitated the participating troupes.
The celebrations included an Odia-style rendition of Vande Mataram and a commemorative book release by the Odisha Sahitya Akademi. The event concluded at Rabindra Mandap with a theatrical production of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Anandamath.