Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s prime coastal tourism hub of Konark will once again witness a global confluence of art through the twin annual events of the Konark Festival of classical dance performances with the grand Sun Temple in the backdrop and the International Sand Art Festival.
Notably, the events are all-inclusive non-ticketed platforms for one and all to enjoy.
The 30th edition of the Konark Festival being organised by Odisha Tourism will be held at the open air auditorium of the magnificent Konark Sun Temple from December 1 to 5.
The event will showcase the best of India’s traditional and classical dance forms, besides offering interesting insights into the rich cultural heritage of the country.
Leading exponents and dance enthusiasts of almost all classical dance forms of India, including Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Sattriya, will take part in the five-day classical dance carnival.
While the 2017 event witnessed participation from Malaysia, a country bearing a deep cultural connect with India in general and Odisha in particular, this year anticipates participation from seven states, including Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat and New Delhi, apart from troupes from within Odisha.
International Sand Art Festival
The eighth edition of the International Sand Art Festival, with globally-renowned sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik as its brand ambassador and chief curator, will be held coinciding with the Konark Festival, on the pristine Chandrabhaga Beach.
The global competition will follow the established pattern of day-wise themes based on which participating artists will create their works.
The 2017 event witnessed 59 artists from across India and an artist each from Mexico, Russia, Germany, Spain, Canada, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Singapore displaying their sand art across five days, during which a footfall of 5,20,612 tourists was registered.
Carrying on from the excitement of Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018, this year’s themes include sports apart from heritage, environment, women empowerment and fairs and festivals.
Other Attractions
A Crafts Mela is held near to the Chandrabhaga. At the mela, beautiful sculptures and souvenirs made by the expert craftsmen of the region will be displayed and sold.
Enriching the tourist experience further will be a wide array of delectable cuisines.
