.FEST In Bhubaneswar Draws Crowd With New Feature On Regional Music

Bhubaneswar: Music lovers thronged the show of regional singers, which is an additional feature of the ongoing .FEST in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

The organisers of .FEST at IDCO Exhibition grounds in the city incorporated a stage near Gate 1 to showcase regional heartthrob singers and performers on day 13 of the ongoing festival. More than 20,000 visitors turned up at Sebe-Au-Ebe, International Food Festival, Night Flea Market and the Trails.

The ‘Sebe-O-Ebe highlights the illustrious urban past of Bhubaneswar and showcases its transformation. This one-of-a-kind event highlighted the illustrious past of Bhubaneswar through more than 450 pictures ranging from 70 to 150 years back. The pictures that depict the transformation of the city have been divided into 5 categories of ‘We the People’, ‘Heritage’, ‘Festival’, ‘Making of the City’ and ‘Happenings’.

Major sources for these images are the I&PR department, American anthropologist James M Freeman, personal collection of Dr Ramakanta Samantaray from old magazines and artists and photographers.

The trails also witnessed heavy traction as over 100 people enjoyed Food Trails, Nature Trails and Heritage Trails. The food trails, particularly the Odia Thali trail, witnessed heavy footfall.

Another major attraction was the Night Flea Market which provides a remarkable stage for regional artists, start-ups, performers, makers, and creators to showcase their products. The Flea Market features around 120 stalls of local artisans, new-age designers, entrepreneurs. It made a total business of around Rs 6 lakh on the day.

The International Food Festival, where 80-90 varieties of international cuisines from 16 Hockey World Cup participating countries are offered, was another major attraction. This included six international stalls and 24 state stalls of Odisha, that are set up to present international and regional delicacies.

It also featured 4 government-run stalls with cuisine participation from Millet Mission to Mission Shakti Nari to Koraput Café among others.