Odisha CM foregoes Diwali festivities amid cyclone devastation

Chief Minister Majhi's decision to forgo Diwali festivities underscores the scale of the disaster that has struck Odisha's southern districts. The Chief Minister's Office announced that celebrations planned at Majhi's residence have been scrapped entirely, with the CMO also urging citizens to refrain from presenting gifts or bouquets to the Chief Minister during the festival season.

In a statement circulated via social media, the CMO called on the public to remain sensitive to the plight of disaster-affected communities and extend humanitarian assistance where possible. The directive reflects the administration's prioritisation of relief work over ceremonial observances as Cyclone Arnab and ensuing floods have wreaked havoc across multiple regions, displacing thousands and inflicting substantial property damage.

This is the second major festival that Majhi has declined to celebrate publicly this year. The Chief Minister had previously abstained from Durga Puja festivities in October, choosing not to visit puja pandals as a show of solidarity with farmers whose crops were destroyed by heavy rainfall during that period.

Odisha has faced successive natural disasters in recent months, with the state's relief machinery stretched across multiple fronts to address displacement, infrastructure damage, and agricultural losses. The Chief Minister's measured response signals the gravity of the ongoing humanitarian crisis confronting the state.