Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi Cancels Diwali Festivities to Aid Flood‑Hit Communities

In a move that many called both solemn and timely, Odisha’s chief minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, announced that the customary Diwali celebrations at his official residence will not take place this year. The decision, he says, is a direct response to the misery still rippling through the state after Cyclone Arnab battered the southern districts.

“The Hon’ble Chief Minister appeals to everyone to remain sensitive to the public in the affected areas and extend a helping hand to those hit by the disaster,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) posted on X, urging people to forgo gifts, bouquets or any kind of festive trinkets.

It isn’t the first time Majhi has put public grief before personal ceremony. Back in October, he also skipped the traditional Durga Puja outings, staying away from pandals to stand in solidarity with farmers whose fields were washed out by relentless rains.

The floods triggered by Cyclone Arnab have been relentless – thousands have been displaced, homes and crops lie in ruin, and whole villages in the coastal districts are still trying to pick up the pieces. Roads are partially washed out, electricity supplies are patchy, and relief camps are operating at capacity.

Majhi’s cancellation is more than a symbolic gesture; it’s a call to action. He wants citizens to direct the usual festive energy toward tangible assistance – whether that means donating to trusted relief funds, volunteering at shelters, or simply checking in on neighbours who lost everything.

Local NGOs and community groups have already mobilised volunteers, distributing dry rations, medicines and temporary shelters. The government, meanwhile, is accelerating reconstruction work, promising faster rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and financial aid to the hardest‑hit families.

As the lights of Diwali normally flicker across the chief minister’s residence, this year the focus will be on the dimmed hopes of flood‑stricken families. Majhi hopes the collective empathy of Odisha’s people will shine brighter than any rangoli or fireworks.

“Let us remember the true spirit of the festival – sharing, caring, and standing together,” he added. “Our thoughts and prayers are with every family fighting to rebuild their lives.”