File picture of the Golden Beach Festival in Chandipur

Balasore, Jan. 8: The Chandipur beach here is all set to host the annual Golden Beach Festival from Friday.

The three-day event will be a fun cultural extravaganza.

The fest will witness cultural programmes on each evening. Local artistes as well as cultural troupes from various states will take part in the event.

The local defence units, especially Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) and Integrated Test Range (ITR) have evinced interest to put up their counters for showcasing their guns, artilleries and missiles at the festival.

Secretary of the beach festival committee Bismay Mohanty said: “The Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, as well as the state culture department, have agreed to send their troupes here. However, the local artists would also be given opportunity to exhibit their talents. The other attractions this year will be parasailing on the beach and rafting in the sea water,” he said.

The dances to be performed this year include Chhau, Ranapa, Kathak, Bhartnatyam, Kuchupudi, Ghumar and Bihu, apart from Odissi and Sambalpuri. Moghul Tamsha, a dying folk art form of the state, will also be staged during these days.

Chandipur beach, which experiences the sea receding for around 3km twice a day, is a major tourist destination of the district. The festival is expected draw more tourists.

Mohammad Alam, a hotelier in Chandipur, said: “Winter is generally good for the hotel industry and most hotels in the area are fully booked during this period. The tourist inflow is expected to be very high during the festival.”

“There is a proposal to hold women’s kabbadi and volleyball match on the beach,” said Biswajit Rautray, the district tourist officer.

“The beach improvement project, including the construction of a sea wall and illumination with a sanctioned amount Rs 1.56 crore, is in progress,” he said.