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Indian CG Ghosh lauds Odia diaspora at Minneapolis event
Annual gathering in Minneapolis brought together the Odia diaspora to celebrate heritage and strengthen community ties.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 08, Jul 2026
- 18:00 EDT
- 34
57th annual convention of the Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) in Minneapoli / Facebook/ Consulate General of India, Chicago
India's Consul General in Chicago, Somnath Ghosh, lauded the Odia diaspora for preserving its heritage while strengthening India-U.S. ties during his address at the 57th annual convention of the Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) in Minneapolis.
Held from July 2 to 4 under the theme "Milana Taranga" (Tides of Harmony), the convention brought together about 1,200 members of the Odia diaspora from across the United States and Canada.
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The event opened with the national anthems of India, the United States and Canada, followed by a rendition of Vande Mataram. The convention showcased Odisha's cultural legacy while promoting collaboration in healthcare, higher education, tourism, entrepreneurship, youth empowerment and social welfare. It also encouraged networking among Odia entrepreneurs and startup investors to expand global business opportunities and promoted the use of the Odia language among non-resident Odias.
Hosted by the OSA Minnesota Chapter at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington–Minneapolis South, the convention featured cultural performances, business symposiums, workshops and community discussions. This year's theme emphasized unity across generations of the Odia diaspora, with organizers describing the gathering as a bridge connecting tradition, modernity and future generations.
The cultural program featured performances by renowned artists from Odisha, including Odissi exponents Aruna Mohanty and Sujata Mohapatra, bhajan singer Manmath Mishra, comedian Harihara Mohapatra, and singers Nazia Alam, Shasank Sekhar and Diptirekha Padhi. A traditional pitha competition and authentic Odia cuisine prepared by volunteers added to the celebrations.
Beyond cultural events, the convention renewed OSA's push to strengthen public libraries in Odisha through a virtual seminar on library development.
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Participants advocated for a modern, integrated public library network across the state, while Debendra Kumar Das, professor emeritus at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, called for support to revive the historic 129-year-old Diamond Jubilee Public Library in Kendrapada. OSA's Public Library Initiative said it aims to help establish a world-class public library ecosystem in Odisha.
Other prominent attendees included Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences founder Achyuta Samanta and OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal, who participated in the convention's business symposium.
Founded in 1969, the Odisha Society of the Americas is one of the largest organizations representing the Odia diaspora in North America, with its annual convention serving as its flagship event and a platform to preserve Odisha's language, culture and heritage across generations.
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