Preparations in full swing for Gopalpur beach festival

BERHAMPUR: Preparations are in full swing for the Gopalpur beach festival which is to commence on Dec 24 at the serene beach resort near the city. The five-day festival of music and dance is being organised by the Ganjam District Hoteliers Association (GDHA) with help from the Ganjam district administration and police. This cultural festival is being organized to attract tourists to the Gopalpur beach resort. It may be noted that the state tourism department has decided to include this five day period in December as the time for Gopalpur beach festival in the tourism calendar of Orissa.

State Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro who is adviser of the beach festival committee said all efforts were being made to attract tourists to the beach festival. The chairperson of the organizing committee, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, said they wanted to extend such hospitality and entertainment which would make tourists attending the beach festival recommend to others to come over to this beach resort to enjoy the festival next year. President of the GDHA and convener of the organizing committee, Uma Shankar Panigrahi said its inclusion in Orissa’s tourism calendar would help in better marketing of the event outside the State.

An exhibition of rural art and craft is also part of the festival. This exhibition of rural art and craft is expected to continue for seven days even after the end of the beach festival. This beach festival would try to showcase the local folk art forms and upcoming dance and music troupes. Cultural troupes from all over the country and parts of Orissa would take part in this beach festival, to provide a national flavour. The East Zone Cultural Centre has extended support for this beach festival. The performances of this beach festival would include ethnic folk dance forms and classical dance forms like Odissi and Kuchipudi. Every evening there would be sessions of modern dance and music to match the moods of youngsters.

Source: The Hindu