India, Jan. 13 -- Over 50 lakh students, teachers and staff members of educational institutions across Odisha on Monday joined a mass rendition of 'Vande Mataram', marking the 150th anniversary of the iconic national song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

The event was organised by the State's school and mass education and higher education departments. Institutes under the skill development and technical education department also took part in the programme.

Earlier, the assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution asking the State Government to celebrate 150 years of 'Vande Mataram' across the State.

Apart from singing the national song, the participants also took the pledge of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Swadeshi Sankalp' on the occasion...