Utkalika Qatar celebrated the 88th Odisha foundation day with a cultural evening attended by more than 250 people and inaugurated by founder and promoter Dr Dev L Mohanty. Indian Cultural Centre president A P Manikantan and school activities head Shantanu Deshpande were present. In his welcome address, Utkalika president Dr Basanta Kumar Kabi urged the community members to stay rooted to the culture and diversity of the motherland. Children were honoured for participating in the Fan Zone cultural programmes of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.. Cultural performances, release of the annual souvenir 'Barnali' and presentation of “Utkalika Karma Veera award” 2023 to Shashi Sekhar Patra, Kharabela Panigrahi, Saroj Panda and Santosh Dora and a show by Odia playback singer Anindita Das were among the highlights. Utkalika general-secretary Abinash Acharya, vice-president Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, joint secretary Bibhu Acharya, cultural secretary Ipsita Satpathy and joint cultural secretary Omprakash Parida led the programme.