Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: A tableau depicting the popular Dol mela or Holi festival in the state has been approved for the Republic Day parade.

Artists Gajendra Kumar Sahoo, Chhatrapati Biswal, Baladev Maharatha and Pradyumna Kumar Dash have designed the tableau. A team of selected artists will go to New Delhi in the first week of January to make the tableau.

Odisha has been selected for the Republic Day parade after two years. In 2015, the state tableau had depicted Boita Bandana festival through its tableau on the Republic Day.

"Holi represents the cultural heritage of the state. It has a special significance at the Puri temple. So, we felt it would be great to showcase the traditions of our state through the tableau," said information and public relations department's director Sushil Kumar Das.

The final selection of tableau was done after six rounds of screening. The state government had sent sketches on 11 topics, including Kalinga War, Dhauli Shanti Stupa, Ratnagiri Buddhist site, Chilika and traditional crafts of the state.

"In the initial round, we had sent the sketches. It was tested on various parameters such as 3D design, music and the theme," Das said.

On Phalguna purnima or the full moon day, the idol of Lord Dolagobinda, representing Jagannath, who is an incarnation of Lord Krishna, along with Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati, are taken in a procession to a dais called dol vedi located outside the main temple for special rituals. .

Every year, the defence ministry selects a handful of tableaux for the Republic Day parade. The theme-based tableaux display the country's culture, heritage and achievements. They also showcase the nation's military prowess, progress in science and technology and economic strength.