(From top) Performers from different states at an earlier edition of Puri Beach Festival. Dancers from Assam perform Bihu and those from the state perform Odissi (file pictures)

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 21: Get ready to join the cultural extravaganza in Puri as the tourist destination gears up for the 17th International Puri Beach Festival starting from November 23. The week-long festival promises its visitors oodles of fun, frolic and entertainment.

The festival has a host of entertainment programmes lined up for its audience. From Wednesday the seacoast will be packed with small and big kiosks with artisans from various districts and states exhibiting their ingenious handloom and handicraft products. The fair will also have kiosks demonstrating the age-old craft of loom and pattachitra.

The evening programmes will be the main attraction of the festival. The organisers, Hotel Association of Puri, have arranged for classical dance, tribal folk dance, ballet and an array of musical concerts. Artistes from Odisha film fraternity and Bollywood will also regale the viewers. In the backdrop of all the glitz and glamour, another attraction that has been pulling crowds over the years is the scrumptious platter of dishes available at the international festival.

“Every year, we try our best to make the event better and grander than the previous year. Rock concerts and ballet group performances by artistes from foreign countries such as Korea, Nepal and Australia will be organised this time. This year, we have arranged for hot air balloon ride with the help of the state tourism department and the Ballooning Club of India. We are sure this ride will attract a good number of people,” said president of the organising committee Ramakrushna Das Mohapatra.

Apart from cultural activities, there are a number of beach sports such as beach karate, beach kabadi, volleyball, malkhamb, judo, parasailing and even heritage walk, that will add spunk to the week-long event. Competitions such as the special regatta or the boat race among local nolias of Puri will be witnessed by spectators. The event will have sand art competition where sand artistes will create beautiful figurines and scenic backdrops on sand.

Like every year, this year too will have the very popular camel and horse ride on the beach and the gudi uda (kite flying) festival. The event has something for the children too. Special meena bazaar, merry-go-round, toy train and touch-the-sky wheel are some of the rides especially arranged for children.

“The festival has been attracting hundreds of visitors every year and apart from providing entertainment it has also expanded marketing opportunities for our talented artistes,” said Mohapatra.