The Puri Beach Festival is celebrated annually at the coastal city of Puri in Orissa. Held every year in the month of November for about five days, the beach festival is a delightful celebration. In recent years, the beach festival has gained popularity. It has become an event attended by tourists from all over the country.
The festival has lots of entertaining events like cultural programs, exhibitions, fashion shows, delicious gastronomy, thrilling sports, etc. at the venue of the shores of Puri. As per tourism prospects, the Beach Festival is unmissable. The festival provides an opportunity to showcase their talent and prosperous cultural heritage of Orissa.
History of Puri Beach Festival
The very first Puri Beach Festival was inaugurated on 29th October 1993 by Late Sri Biju Pattnaik, a dynamic leader of Odisha along with Gulam Nabi Ajad, union minister for tourism. The beach festival is organized by Hotel Association of Puri (HAP) in association with, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Department of Tourism & Culture, Government of Odisha, Song & Drama Division, EZCC, New Delhi, Kolkata and ICCR.
The 24th version of the Puri Beach festival is set to be an unforgettable event. The 2017 festival starts from November.
Celebrations of Puri Beach Festival
The Puri Beach festival is a celebration of the art, craft, culture, sports, cuisines and other aspects of tourism of Orissa. On a single platform witness the cultural heritage of not just Orissa but many other states. The festival offers a captivating and enchanting experience of all.
Get ready for a platter of cultural events. There will be classical and folk dance performances in the evenings. Watch the captivating forms of dance accompanied with melodious strains of classical music. Handicraft exhibitions are particularly attention grabbing. Witness the forms of tribal and other arts & crafts of Orissa. Do not miss the traditional beach sports like beach volleyball, Kabadi, Malkhamb (pole gymnastics). The sand art is definitely the highlight of the festival. Regatta boat or yacht races are also quite popular. From food festivals to rock concerts, beach parties to fashion shows, the Puri Beach Festival has almost everything for every age group.
The venue of the festival, the Puri Beach is packed with visitors throughout the day. Do not miss to snack on the delicacies. Shopping in the beach market is a good experience. Take home handicrafts, shell jeweler and other remembrances of the festival.
How to Reach Puri
Puri is located close to Bhubaneswar which has great air, rail and road connectivity. Puri itself is accessible by road and rail from most major parts of India. Here is how to reach Puri:
By Air
Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to Puri. The air terminal is nearly 56 km from the heart of the Puri city. The airport is connected domestically throughout the country. International travelers need to get connections through Delhi or Kolkata. From the airport there are options of cabs, buses and private vehicles to the beach city.
By Rail
Puri is connected by a major railway junction. Regular direct train services are available from many cities in India. From the railway station taxis easily take you to the beach.
By Road
Puri is connected with the neighboring cities through well-constructed roads. State owned buses offer regular connections. Taxis and private vehicles can easily commute to the coastal town.
If you are planning to attend the Puri Beach Festival, check out accommodations from our listed collection. Luxury hotels, boutique hotels, budget lodgings, all kinds of hotels in Puri are available for bookings. Explore more of Orissa, you may want to browse through our collection of tour packages. What you waiting for? Make hassle free travel plans with us and explore more of Orissa.
