Odisha Parab to host at Varanasi rich heritage, culture and cuisine on stage

BHUBANESWAR: The state administration is due to host 'Odisha Parab' at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from Saturday to showcase state's rich cultural heritage, crafts, cuisine, performing arts and diverse tourism experiences.

Key points

• The three-day Odisha Parab will feature 32 stalls, comprising 22 craft and 10 cuisine, offering visitors an immersive experience of Odisha, in association with FICCI as the industry partner.
• The event will additionally feature a Diaspora Meet, providing a platform for engagement with the Odia community and friends of Odisha in Varanasi and the wider region.
• A dedicated tourism roadshow will showcase Odisha's key destinations, tourism products and emerging opportunities.

For context, the three-day event, to be held from August 22 to 24, is being organised by the Tourism department with participation of Odia Language, Literature & Culture department, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts department, Mission Shakti, Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).

Meanwhile, the inaugural ceremony of Odisha Parab in Varanasi will be graced by deputy chief ministers Pravati Parida and KV Singh Deo, their UP counterparts Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak and UP Tourism and Culture minister Jaiveer Singh, among others.

"The event will bring the essence of Odisha to the sacred city of Varanasi, creating a platform for cultural exchange and strengthening the tourism and cultural connect between Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, " Parida remarked. The three-day Odisha Parab will feature 32 stalls, comprising 22 craft and 10 cuisine, offering visitors an immersive experience of Odisha, in association with FICCI as the industry partner.

For context, the craft showcase will feature a diverse range of traditional and contemporary, including Pattachitra, palm-leaf engraving, Dhokra, silver filigree, handloom, Kotpad textiles, brass and bronze crafts, jute products and other handicrafts. A dedicated tourism roadshow will showcase Odisha's key destinations, tourism products and emerging opportunities.

Notably, the event will additionally feature a Diaspora Meet, providing a platform for engagement with the Odia community and friends of Odisha in Varanasi and the wider region.

Dedicated B2B and B2G sessions will bring together tourism stakeholders, industry representatives, investors, tour operators, hospitality players and administration representatives to facilitate meaningful business interactions, explore partnerships and promote greater tourist movement between Odisha and UP, state tourism office-holders noted.

Taken together, the developments around odisha Parab to host at Varanasi rich heritage, culture and cuisine on point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.