Utkal Divas, also called Odisha Foundation Day, is observed on April 1 to commemorate the formation of Odisha. The state came into being on 1 April 1936, when Odia-speaking areas spread across various provinces of British India were brought together. Odisha holds the distinction of being the first Indian state created on a linguistic basis, aimed at safeguarding the Odia language and culture. Leaders such as Madhusudan Das and Gopabandhu Das spearheaded the movement. At its formation, the state had six districts: Cuttack, Puri, Baleswar, Sambalpur, Koraput and Ganjam.