Bhubaneswar, Jan. 22: The tourism department's three-day winter festival kicked off at Phulbani's Coronation Field in Kandhamal district today as the state government looks to capitalise on the huge success of last year's event.

The event was shifted to Phulbani from Daringbadi, where the event was hosted last year. This has caused resentment among Daringbadi residents who protested against the state government's decision.

The fest will have a wide array of cultural shows conducted by Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi, Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi and Odisha Sahitya Akademi.

Tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda said: "The winter festival is a step towards facilitating the district toward becoming a major tourist hotspot."

The festival would also boost rural talents.

"Artistes from the rural districts fail to get recognition as they lack proper platforms to showcase their talents. We are attempting to promote these artistes through the festival," said Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi secretary Dhira Mallick.

Many artistes from the district and outside will perform at the festival and showcase their skills. Every evening, a group will stage Odissi, followed by other folk art forms, including ghoda nacha, Sambalpuri, Moghul Tamasha and gotipua. Dancers from different parts of the country have also arrived to take part in the festival where they will stage Kathakali, bhangra and bihu.

An art camp was inaugurated today where local painters will bring alive their imaginations on canvas. "We will encourage the artists to capture the beauty of their district, which will help promote the place," said Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi secretary Tarakanta Parida.

A few renowned artists from the state have also been invited to interact with the young painters. Besides the art camp, a kavi sammelan (poets' meet) and poetry reading session will be hosted as a part of the fest.

In a related incident, residents of Daringbadi called a bandh in the area to protest against the government's decision to change the venue.

But, officials said that Daringbadi was not conducive to host such an event.

"The infrastructure is poor and the district administration advised us to change the venue so that the festival could be hosted without any glitches. A lot of renovation work is going on in Daringbadi and if things are fine next year, we will host the fest there again," said Mallick. Last year, around 40,000 local people visited the festival.