Post by UNICEF India

Bhoj, as it’s known, is the local tradition in Odisha of celebrating a girl’s first period. Relatives come over, there’s music and dancing for seven continuous days to welcome a girl into womanhood. It’s also considered a sign that she is ready to get married. In 2019, the Govt. of Odisha, in collaboration with UNICEF, launched a five-year Strategic Action Plan to eliminate child marriage in the state by 2030. Advika aims to prevent child marriage through various strategies, including strengthening state structures and mechanisms, facilitating meetings and discussions between different departments, raising awareness about child protection issues, empowering adolescents, and community involvement.