Sreekshetra Mahotsav 2012 at Puri in December

10th Puri Festival 2012

The “pilgrim’s paradise” of Puri is gearing up for the 10th annual Sreekshetra Mahotsav (Puri festival) slated for the second week of December. The traditional performing arts of Puri will be showcased at the 10th edition of Sreekshetra Mahotsav. This five-day cultural extravaganza organised by district culture department is a much-awaited event for the holy city.

“Puri attracts a huge number of pilgrims and tourists daily. However, most of them visit the Jagannath temple and the beach, and leave the ancient town, with no knowledge of its rich cultural traditions that have flourished for centuries centring on the temple. Local people conceptualised the festival to showcase and propagate their exclusive art traditions,” District Culture Officer (DCO) P. K. Samantaray said.

From balancing acts on wooden poles to various acrobatic stunts, bodybuilders and Malkhamba artistes stage their skills on the beach. Apart from these, members of the age-old akhadas (gym-cum-recreation clubs) of the city and a host of other traditional artistes display their talent at the event.

December being the peak period for tourist arrivals here, the festival was designed to provide to a maximum number of tourists/pilgrims an exposure to local art practices, Mr Samantaray said. Ever since the festival was launched, one or other ‘sahi’ (colony) of the town had volunteered to host the festival in association with other ‘sahis’, the temple administration, locals and the district administration, he said. Kundheibenta sahi would organise the festival this year, he said.