| Kalyani Gajapati | |
|---|---|
| Head of the Parlakhemundi Ganga dynasty | |
| Reign | 10 January 2020 CE - current (titular) |
| Predecessor | Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo |
| Born | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Biju Janata Dal |
| Parent |
|
| Residence | Gajapati Palace, Parlakhemundi |
| Occupation |
|
| Dynasty | Eastern Ganga (Paralakhemundi branch) |
Kalyani Gajapati or Kalyani Devi[1] is the current head of the Parlakhemundi Ganga dynasty. She became the first woman to head the Ganga dynasty of Paralakhemundi.[2]
Kalyani Gajapati spent her early years away from Paralakhemundi as she pursued her education in Bangalore and Chennai visited the palace occasionally.
Kalyani Gajapati was crowned at age 50[3] on 10 January 2020, after her father Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo died in Bhubaneswar. She is the 17th head of the dynasty. A puja was performed at Ramaswami temple near the palace. Kalyani was taken in a procession to the Darbar Hall or her court, where she sat on the throne in the attire of a princess. After coronation, Kalyani issued her first order: the funeral and cremation of her father.[4]
Kalyani Gajapati joined the political party BJD (Biju Janata Dal) in February 2019.[1]