On 22 September 2024, a Sanskrit Shloka recitation competition was held among high school students from the 12th chapter of Bhagavad Geeta Bhakti Yoga at Sambalpur Public Library. In this gathering, 35 contestants from a total of 14 high schools from Sambalpur Municipality and surrounding areas participated. The Gita shlokas were recited in a serene and spiritual environment.
Prof. Aditya Prasad Padhi, Chairman of Sambalpur Public Library presided over the ceremony and the Vice Chancellor of Odisha State Open University, Prof. Shyam Sunder Patnaik, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The contestants were awarded Certificates of Merit with cash prize, Sarita Majhi commemorative Trophy and Gita book as prizes.
In this competition Mr. Muktakantha Pradhan, Ms Santoshini Dash and Ms. Pratibha Mishra participated as judges in evaluation of the participants. Kumari Pragya Bharti Panda, Shishu Mandir Dhanupali was adjudged the first, Kumari Rajnandini Priyadharini Sahu of Chandrashekhar Behera Zilla School the second and Kumari Shriya Tandkar of Sri Ganesh Dhanupali High School got the third place. They received the Sarita Majhi commemorative trophy along with cash prizes of Rs.3000,2000 and 1000 respectively. Consolation prizes of Rs.500 each along with Trophy were given to Kumari Pattika Pradhan ,Sri Sahil Behera and Sri Ayansha Mohan Mishra.
All the participants were presented with Participation Excellence Certificate and a Bhagavad Geeta book. The entire program was coordinated by Sri Rajendra Panda, Joint Secy of the Library. Many intellectuals, school principals, parents and dignitaries including Sambalpur Public Library vice-president Shankar Pati, Secretary Raghunath Mishra, Arvinda Mahapatra, Muralidhar Premnath Naik, Deepali Choudhury, Rabindra Panda, Yasovanta Parida, Abhed Panigrahi, Amrutlal Dash, Bibatsa Panda, Sudhir Panda etc were present in the gathering.
In memory of his wife Sarita Majhi, Engineer Bibhuti Narayan Majhi organized this programme and offered vote of thanks to all participants, Management of Sambalpur Public Library, Chief Guest and others. He announced that this program will be held every year on the third Sunday of September at the Library premises.
It may be mentioned that Late Sarita passed MA in Sanskrit with first class from Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur and obtained her PhD from Calcutta University. Her thesis “Vows (Vratas) and Fasts (Upavasas) in the Dharmashastras : their impact on human life & society” was highly acclaimed by professors of Mysore University and Rajasthan University.