The theme of the International Sand Art Festival’s this year is around the ongoing Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 and the participating artists are bringing their interpretation of the same with their sculptures.

Meanwhile, the inaugural performances at the 30th Konark Festival, exhibited the best of India’s ancient cultural arts, with the opening performance by renowned Odissi Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and group.

Odissi as a classical dance form, while largely performed by danseuses, as per Guru Ranbir, also comprises the Tandava aspect, including items such as  Sabda Swara Pata and Sthayee have been specially choreographed keeping the male torso in view.

The second dance performance in Bharatanatyam, was led by leading exponent Rama Vaidyanathan. Being a predominantly solo dance, Bharatnatyam leans heavily on the abhinaya or mime aspect of dance – the nritya, where the dancer expresses the sahitya through movement and mime.

Prior to the performances, the inaugural began with the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony in the led by Hon’ble Minister Tourism and Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Shri. Ashok Chandra Panda. Shri. Panda aptly described the annual festival as the “after-dusk celebration of the grandeur of the Konark Temple, whose essence of interplay with the Sun God’s first rays is on full display at dawn.”

Director & Special Secretary Tourism, Smt. Archana Patnaik IAS highlighted the Department’s efforts to promote tourism throughout the year through a diverse calendar of events, including the ongoing Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 in Bhubaneswar, besides steadily upgrading tourist infrastructure at destinations, both established and relatively underexplored.

The second day at Konark Festival 2018 will witness performances of Kathak by accomplished danseuse Smt. Yasmin Singh and group, and of Odissi by exponent Smt. Sharmila Biswas and group.