Varanasi: The sacred city of Varanasi and the holy land of Lord Jagannatha came together as the three-day cultural extravaganza Odisha Parab officially commenced at the Convention Hall of Deendayal Hastkala Sankul Trade Facilitation Centre and Crafts Museum in Varanasi. Taking place from August 22 to August 24, 2026, the festival brings Odisha’s faith, culture, cuisine, and crafts to Uttar Pradesh, offering open entry to all visitors under the unifying theme of Faith, Culture, Cuisine, and Crafts.
The grand event is organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, in association with FICCI as the industry partner. It receives extensive support from key state bodies, including the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, the Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Mission Shakti, the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society, and the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation.
The opening day began with the exhibition inauguration led by Odisha Deputy Chief Ministers Shri K. V. Singh Deo and Smt. Pravati Parida, who toured the venue and interacted with local artisans, weavers, and entrepreneurs. The evening featured a formal inaugural ceremony attended by top leadership from both states, including Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya as Chief Guest, UP Tourism and Culture Minister Shri Jaiveer Singh, UP Minister for Labour and Employment Shri Anil Rajbhar, and Pindra MLA Dr. Awadhesh Singh.
Key administrative delegates present included Union Tourism Secretary Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, UP Tourism Additional Chief Secretary Shri Amrit Abhijat, UP Chief Advisor Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Odisha Tourism Secretary Shri Balwant Singh, Odisha Culture Secretary Dr. Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, and Odisha Tourism Director Shri Deepankar Mohapatra.
Designed as an interactive, whole-of-government ecosystem, the exhibition features 32 total stalls that bridge artisan traditions with livelihood generation:
22 Craft Stalls: Showcasing traditional and contemporary art forms such as Pattachitra, palm-leaf engraving, Dhokra metal craft, silver filigree, handloom weaves, Kotpad textiles, brass and bronze crafts, and jute products. Visitors can observe live master artisan demonstrations for Pattachitra, palm-leaf engraving, silver filigree, and Dhokra.
10 Cuisine Stalls: Offering authentic regional flavors including traditional Odia cuisine, Pitha, traditional sweets, Dahibara Aloodum, regional snacks, millet-based items, and specialty Koraput Coffee.
Complementing the crafts and food, the festival stages vibrant daily performing arts showcasing Odissi, Gotipua, Sambalpuri, and diverse folk music. A dedicated tourism showcase highlights major travel destinations, spanning spiritual and heritage centers like Puri, Konark, and the Buddhist circuit of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri, alongside ecological hubs like Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Similipal Biosphere Reserve.