Dancers from Kerala perform Kathakali in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 27: Heritage walk to dance recitals and photography exhibition were held here today to celebrate World Tourism Day.

A heritage walk was organised from Mukteswar temple to the Pantha Nivas via Bindusagar lake. More than 400 students took part in the walk. Tourism director Manoranjan Patnaik said: “We are going to make our tourist spots safer even during the evening hours. Adequate lighting and security deployment will be provided at Dhauli to allow tourists to have a good time near the pagoda in the evening hours.’’

While there is a plan to develop Dhauli and other sites such as Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri into a mega Buddhist circuit with funding from the Centre, the tribal tourism circuit will include Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput, he said. The tribal circuit will have interpretation, reception and convention centres.

In a bid to promote the flow of tourists, Kerala tourism today organised a cultural event. The traditions and culture of God’s own country were presented at a private hotel in Jayadev Vihar.

The cultural soiree began with flamboyant show of courage. Performing the martial dance form Kalaripayattu, the dancers with sharp steel sword launched an attack on each other, making it appear as if they were baying for each other’s blood.

The performance replete with acrobatics is believed to showcase the warrior like qualities of the artistes. Flying several feet above the ground, the artistes have to display exceptional balance and it can prove quite precarious for the performer.

The subsequent recital was Kathakali, the most famous classical art form of Kerala. The artistes’ presented defined gestures in their elaborate costumes.

The slow and steady movements in dance-drama complimented the background music. An artiste from the southern state also performed Thiri Uzhichil — a ritual to please the fire god.

A very popular act of central Kerala, a believer takes a couple of fire torches with burning flames and rubs them all over the body. One needs a great deal of precision to ensure that he does not get hurt while carrying out the ritual. The following acts were Theyyam, a popular folk dance from north Kerala, and Mohiniattam, another well-known classical dance form. The event concluded with all the artistes coming together and displaying their characteristic steps. Short films on Kerala’s panoramic beauty were also screened on the occasion where a lot of travel agents had gathered to woo the travellers.

Tapan Kumar Mishra, a 39-year-old, freelance tourist guide made the most of the occasion by organising a photography exhibition. Titled Aitihya ra chitra, the two-day exhibition that commenced at Jayadev Bhavan today, exhibited his 50-odd snaps presenting magnificent monuments, heritage sites and diverse flora, fauna and people from all across the country. Another daylong photography competition-cum-exhibition based on water was held at Rabindra Mandap. Organised by Odisha tourism department, youngster Bhabani Das won the first prize.