Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different states and Union Territories through the concept of state and UT pairing. The states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connect in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions &amp; music, tourism &amp; cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.<br />”<br />”Maharashtra and Odisha have been paired in the Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat programme and the states have so much in common. From certain similar words, food habits and music, Maharashtra and Odisha have various other things in common which adds to the cultural diversities between these two states leading to a perfect example of Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat.<br />”<br />”According to Pandit Kailash Patra, a violin player, Sanskrit is the base of both Marathi and Odiya language. He said there are certain words like 'Aapan', 'tumhi' and many others which have almost similar meanings in bothl languages. He said when it comes to music, the semblance in the introductory part in natya sangeet and light music in both odishi and Marathi is so much same that one would not be able to guess which language song will be played.<br />”<br />”Mr. Patra also said as both Maharashtra and Odisha have a long sea coastline the food habits too are inseparable from the western and eastern most states; besides, large number of temples of God and goddesses in both the states also form a common thread.&nbsp;<br />