Puri Beach Festival

The annual Puri Beach Festival is one of the festal activities that depicts the cultural extravaganzas of the east Indian state of Orissa. One of the eminent Orissa festivals, the Puri Beach Festival is organized within the precincts of the temple town of Puri. Myriads of tourists from all corners of the Indian subcontinent as well as the far reaches of the globe flock to the state to participate in the mirth and merriment of the festive celebrations. The festival is organized by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Orissa in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Government of Orissa, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts and the Eastern Zonal Cultural Center, Kolkata.

The celebration and the revelry of the Puri Beach Festival commences in the salubrious and pleasant month of November. The festival offers tourists an insight of the cultural potpourri of Orissa. The festival showcases the cuisine, handicrafts, cultural extravaganzas and the religious Diaspora of the state. On the whole, the festival is rather an enjoyable affair. However, in order to keep up with the changing times and the latest fads, the festival nowadays is fashioned on the Goa festival. Thus fashion shows and rock bands form an integral part of the carnival. The colorful kaleidoscope enlightens tourists on what Orissa has to offer and also contributes a substantial amount of revenue to the tourism sector. Apart from the various bands that are brought in to entertain the young audience, the festival also caters to the patrons and connoisseurs of the arts. Classical dance shows and musical soirées and other cultural events are a part and parcel of the ceremony. Stalls selling a plethora of handicraft and sand art products are also peppered all over the town.