Gopalpur-On-Sea (Berhampur) offers Sunday fun

BERHAMPUR: Sundays at the enchanting Gopalpur-on-sea will be all the more exhilarating from now on with the Ganjam district administration deciding to start a new weekly programme at the sea beach every Sunday. Local artistes will perform traditional folk dance and music on the beach every weekend to woo tourists. The year-long extravaganza, christened "Sunday at Gopalpur", will start from January 13. "The programme is aimed at giving exposure to traditional artistes of the district, and to make Gopalpur one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the country," said district collector Krishan Kumar. The programme is an initiative of the District Council of Culture (DCC), Odisha tourism and Notified Area Council (NAC), Gopalpur. "Initially, DCC funds will be used for the programme. In future, we will look for sponsorship or funds from the government to continue the initiative," Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi said. "It's a unique programme where we can promote both tourism and the rich cultural heritage of the state," Panigrahi added.

District cultural officer K C Nisanko corroborated Panigrahi's views and said the administration wanted to cash in on the heavy footfall of tourists at the beach town on Sundays. All popular folk dance and music forms of the district, including Jodi Shankha, animal mask dance, Ranapa, Dasakathia, Palla, Ghanta Murdunga, Bagha Nata, Dhumpa Badya, will find place on the programme schedule. Besides, famous folk plays like Prahallad Natak, Bharat Lilla, Rama Lilla, Krushan Lilla, Radha Prema Lilla will also be performed, the culture officer added.

Source: Times of India