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Artistes yet to be selected for Konark festival

BHUBANESWAR: An ad-hoc attitude of the Department of Tourism towards the famous Konark festival of Indian classical dances has jeopardized its prospects of attracting tourists.

Modelled after the internationally attractive Khajuraho dance festival, the five-day festival being mounted on an open-air auditorium at Konark every year from December 1 to 5 with the world famous Sun temple forming its backdrop was launched by the Orissa government two decades ago to promote tourism while providing patronage to Indian classical dances.

Less than a month to go, the host of the festival is yet to finalise its list of artistes, according to sources in the tourism directorate. A committee of experts recommended the names of the artistes nearly three months ago but the Minister concerned did not approve the proposals for reasons best known to him. “There has been too much of political pressure with regard to selection of artistes,” it is learnt. Owing to the inordinate delay in finalisation of the artistes and troupes, the tour operators have not been able to package the festival at the national and international level to attract tourists, rue representatives of various travel-trade organisations.

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