On 30 January 2026, Odisha Postal Circle marked Martyrs’ Day with a compact but meaningful philatelic release. The event took place at the Philatelic Bureau, Bhubaneswar GPO (751001) around 12:00 PM and featured the simultaneous release of two picture postcards and a special pictorial cancellation, a combination collectors always appreciate.
The two picture postcards focus on places closely linked to Mahatma Gandhi. One postcard depicts Rajghat, New Delhi, while the other shows the Martyrs’ Column at Gandhi Smriti. Both designs are clean and visually balanced, without unnecessary decoration. They look good as collectibles, but more importantly, they are practical for real postal use and maximum card creation.
The accompanying Martyrs’ Day pictorial cancellation was applied at Bhubaneswar GPO on the same day. The design features Mahatma Gandhi along with the charkha and a dove, rendered in simple line art. The strike is clear, readable, and well-positioned.
Both the picture postcards and the cancellation were designed by Mr. Ajit Kumar Raut, an artist and philatelist.
Only 500 sets of the picture postcards were printed, keeping the issue firmly in limited numbers. That alone gives this release added relevance for collectors of modern Indian philately and contemporary postal history.
Overall, this Martyrs’ Day 2026 release from Bhubaneswar GPO does what it should. It documents the occasion clearly, uses meaningful visuals, and keeps the focus on proper postal usage. Small release, well executed, and worth adding to a serious collection.
