Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday announced an award of RS.500,000 for Abhinav Bindra on winning an Olympic gold medal in Beijing.

Patnaik congratulated Bindra on his success and said that the country was proud of him.

As news broke of Bindra’s success, people started coming out on the streets at several places and danced to drum beats and burst fire crackers.

“It is a great event for all Indians,” Sushama Samal, a football player, said while distributing sweets in Sahid Nagar area of this state capital.

Rabindra Kumar Mohapatra, a college student of Utkal University, said: “We want to remember this incident and we cannot allow this event go without any celebrations.”

Mohapatra and his friends danced in the university campus shouting slogans like “Long live India” and “Long live Bindra”.

“We are proud of Bindra and congratulate him for bringing glory for India,” sand sculpture artist Sudarsan Patnaik told IANS – a sentiment echoed by former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey.