Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha has announced a major cultural initiative to promote the timeless values of the Lakshmi Purana by distributing around one crore copies of the classic text across the state. The initiative is intended to spread its enduring message of women’s empowerment, social equality, and cleanliness while preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich literary heritage.
The announcement was made by Pravati Parida during a national seminar in Puri. She also unveiled plans to develop a ‘Lakshmi Purana Corridor’ at the memorial of the 15th-century Odia poet Balaram Das in Begunia village with an estimated investment of ₹28 crore.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the corridor will be developed in consultation with the Culture Department, Government of Odisha and is expected to be completed within three years. The government also plans to translate the Lakshmi Purana into multiple Indian languages to make its teachings accessible to a wider audience across the country.
Scholars participating in the seminar highlighted that the Lakshmi Purana is regarded as one of Odisha’s most progressive literary works, advocating values such as gender equality, caste harmony, dignity of labour, and social inclusion. Its philosophical and cultural significance continues to resonate centuries after it was composed, making it a cornerstone of Odisha’s literary and spiritual heritage.
Through the proposed corridor and large-scale distribution of the text, the Odisha government aims to preserve the legacy of Lakshmi Purana while inspiring future generations with its enduring ideals of equality, justice, and women’s empowerment.
