Dona Ganguly and Ramli Ibrahim to be the star attraction at Konark Festival 2017

OdishaLIVE Bureau

To make the upcoming Konark Festival from December 1-December 5 an engaging affair, the Department of Tourism has made elaborate arrangement.

Renowned Dancers of national and international repute are going to perform in the backdrop of the historic Konark temple.

The artists will perform Odissi and a host of other Indian classical dance forms.

Historic Konark Temple to serve as the backdrop for the show spanning 5 days

Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Manipuri and Mohiniattam will be the chief dance forms showcased.

Ramli Ibrahim’s Sutra Foundation and Dona Ganguly’s group Diksha Manjari slated to perform Odissi.

International Sand Art festival at Chandrabhaga beach near Konark to be an added attraction.

The Konark Festival is taking place from 1-5 December 2017. The historic Konark Temple of Puri will serve as the backdrop for the world famous event. Odisha Tourism department has made special arrangement for the smooth conduct of the event. The 5 day festival will see two stellar dance performances per day. Audience will regale in the glory of Classical Dance during the 5 day festival.

The Konark Festival is a world famous cultural event. Started in the year 1989, this event is regarded as a top platform of Indian Classical Tradition. Malaysia’s Odissi Dance expert Ramli Ibrahim and reputed Odissi exponent Dona Ganguly will perform Odissi along with their group at the exalted stage.

The schedule of the 5 day gala cultural session is as follows:

Succeeding Cultural festivals responsible for bringing Indian heritage to the forefront like Khajuraho, Ellora and Hampi festivals, the Konark festival has carved a niche for itself in the domain of  geography, history, tourism potential and  Odishan art and culture.Not only artists from India and abroad, even tourists are in awe of the Konark Festival. The natural surroundings of Konark, the atmosphere, heritage and the sea beach are added incentives for tourists to visit Konark.

Odisha has a variety of art, culture and sculpture and abundance of natural resources and tourist attractions. This has made Odisha popular in the national tourism circuit as the ‘Jewel of India’.

“Konark Festival apart from staging Odissi dance preserves  the Indian Classical Dance tradition and has elevated the status of Odisha in the national sphere” says Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister Tourism, GoO.

“Every year, dancers of national and international repute perform on the world renowned Konark Festival. This year eminent dance expert from Malaysia, Ramli Ibrahim is going to enchant the audience in the Odissi dance. Konark Festival will be a unique experience for the tourists and spectators” told Tourism Director, Nitin Bhanudas Jawale to OdishaLIVE. He further added that the state government is making all measures to ensure more footfall to Konark Festival by placing hoardings at important places in Bhubanesear, Puri and Konark.

He also informed the department’s plans of placing ads on TV Channels and Social Media.

“This year we are trying to have more and more tourists to come and witness the Konark Festival and have a unique experience. We will always try to make Konark Festival a class apart from other cultural festivals like Khajuraho, Ellora and Hampi festivals among others” he further said.

“I have been a part of Khajuraho, Ellora and Hampi festivals earlier. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in the Konark Festival as well. Though it started later than the other heritage festivals but Konark Festival has earned a name for itself in the international sphere as highly acclaimed artists from India and abroad come to be a part of this beautiful cultural show” said renowned vocal artist and CEO of Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, Dr. Sangeeta Gossain.

A variety of tourists across diverse locations like to come and witness the beauty of Konark Festival. Especially tourists from places like Germany, Italy, London, Malaysia and Australia, frequent this annual cultural extravaganza.

Distinguished Odissi dance guru Gajendra Panda says “Konark Festival has presented a golden opportunity to various artists to perform at such a big platform over the years. The heritage and historical significance of Konark has given a new dimension to this festival. I feel that the joy an artist receives while appearing on the Konark stage cannot be replicated elsewhere.”