Odia Kalash

Bhubaneswar, Nov 02: Prime Minister Narendra Modi selected a beautifully hand-painted earthen pot, or ‘kalash,’ designed by the Odia artist Suryasnata Mohanty to offer soil for the ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra.’ This gesture marked the culmination of the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, which took place in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Suryasnata Mohanty’s intricately designed kalash showcased the age-old ‘jhoti chita’ tradition of Odisha, which greatly impressed the Prime Minister.

Daughter of the eminent educationist Bijay Kumar Mohanty and Renubala Mohanty, Suryasnata Mohanty specializes in crafting earthen pots and adorning them with traditional colors.

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Suryasnata expressed her delight, saying, “I had never expected that my kalash would be seen in the hands of Prime Minister Modi. But the kalash looked beautiful for sure. I knew everybody would love it. In fact, appreciation started to pour in even before I finished giving the kalash its final color. It took me three days to finish the kalash. I remember working from 10 am till midnight for those three days.”

She went on to emphasize the rich artistic culture of Odisha, saying, “As far as Odisha is concerned, you can find artists in every home. I was attracted to the ‘jhoti’ and ‘chita,’ the designs women painted on the floors and walls of homes during the Thursdays of the Odia Margashira month from my childhood. That is why I always say art is not limited to any individual. It cannot be put inside a boundary.”

This selection was part of the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Modi on August 15, with the objective of honoring the valiant martyrs of the nation. An “Amrit Kalash Yatra” was organized as part of this campaign, during which young representatives from 7,500 gram panchayats across India congregated at Kartavya Path in Delhi. They carried urns filled with soil from different parts of the country, along with saplings.

During the event, PM Modi viewed a digital exhibition of the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign and laid the foundation stone of the Amrit Vatika and Amrit Mahotsav Memorial. He emphasized that the Amrit Mahotsav Memorial will serve as a source of historical knowledge for future generations.

The Prime Minister also launched an autonomous body, “Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat),” which will help focus the government on youth-led development and engage young people as active drivers of development.