Bhubaneswar: The 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival is all set to be held in Odisha’s seaside town Puri on October 19-20.
This was announced by Union Ports, Shipping and waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday. “Join the celebration of our coasts, maritime heritage, vibrant culture & encourage the local community,” he said in a post on X.
The two-day festival will be a shore-side event with fun activities in the pilgrim town, which is also home to the Puri Lighthouse, located on the beach. Puri Lighthouse is known for its views of the town and the sea. The first ever Lighthouse Festival was held in Goa in 2023.
The 2nd Indian Lighthouse Festival will be held in sacred Puri on October 19-20.
Join the celebration of our coasts, maritime heritage, vibrant culture & encourage the local community.#ChaloOdisha #ILF2024#IndianLighthouseFestival pic.twitter.com/NJ1crK7fjE
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) October 8, 2024
The lighthouse is accessible by climbing a number of steps, and some say the view from the top is beautiful.
Sources said the participants will be able to experience the majestic beacons of India’s coastline at Puri.
Organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships – DGLL, this unique event will highlight the rich maritime heritage of India.
According to officials, the festival is aimed at rejuvenating the rich maritime history of India’s iconic lighthouses and unravel the illustrious stories to the world.
The Ministry is aiming to leverage the Indian Lighthouse Festival to shore up base for Public Private Partnership route to develop the historic into world class tourist destinations. The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships has already identified 75 such lighthouses, and this festival is a testament to the commitment of the government to celebrate and preserve our maritime heritage.
The key highlights of the festival are cultural exhibitions, session highlighting maritime history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, melodious evenings with celebrity singers, flavours of the coast and community engagements.