In a bid to boost cultural tourism in the State, the Departments of Tourism and Culture and Textiles, Handlooms and Handicrafts are coming together to host a series of festivals in and around the capital city during the ongoing tourism season. While the decades-old annual Konark dance festival being hosted by Odisha Tourism continues to be the State Government’s most ambitious event to promote cultural tourism, fairs and festivals like the popular Mukteswar dance festival, Toshali national crafts fair, Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav and Rajarani national music festival have emerged as major attractions for the tourists and connoisseurs from far and wide to visit Bhubaneswar.
“The fast-growing capital city of Bhubaneswar has emerged as a frequent destination for a large number of people from India and abroad for various reasons. By organizing various cultural events here, we are trying to project Bhubaneswar as a city of culture while providing the much desired patronage to the artistes and artisans of the country,” stated an official of the Department of Tourism.
“December draws maximum number of tourists to Odisha’s golden triangle of Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar, but the visitors prefer to spend more time in Puri and Konark than in Bhubaneswar as they are not well-aware of the capital city’s attractions. Usually, they use Bhubaneswar as a transit point. Therefore, we planned these festivals in and around Bhubaneswar to retain and enhance tourists’ inflow to the city,” he pointed out.
Close on the heels of the five-day Konark festival that featured a national dance festival and international sand art festival, the 10th edition of the annual Toshali crafts mela is set to be underway at the Janata Maidan here from December 15 to 27. It is being hosted by the Department of Textiles, Handlooms and Handicrafts with support from the Central Government. The fair, that will have about 300 stalls showcasing the rich craft and handloom traditions of India, will have daily colourful cultural evenings featuring a wide variety of dance and music.
The annual Mukteswar Odishi dance festival will be staged in the city on a specially erected open air stage with the famous 10th century Shiv temple forming its backdrop from January 14 to 16. It is being hosted by the Department of Tourism in association with Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi. It will be followed by the Rajarani national music festival, the only festival of its kind for the State, showcasing the three major Indian music traditions – Hindustani, Carnatic and Odissi – and featuring its stalwarts, will be underway on the sprawling green lawns of the 11th century architectural marvel, the Rajarani temple, here from January 18 to 20, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi sources informed.
In the last leg of the tourism season, the Departments of Tourism and Culture in association with well-known dance institutions of the city – Odisha Dance Academy and Art Vision – will host the three-day Dhauli-Kalinga national arts festival at the foothills of Dhauli from February 6 to 8. It will feature classical, folk and martial dance traditions of India, festival director and noted Odishi dancer Aruna Mohanty said.