Odisha Parab Returns to Guwahati, Celebrating Culture, Craft and Connections

Guwahati is set to resonate once again with the colours, rhythms and flavours of Odisha as the three-day cultural festival Second Odisha Parab makes its much-awaited return from January 30 to February 1. Hosted at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Guwahati, the festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage while strengthening ties between the eastern state and the North-East.

With the Odisha government gearing up for a grand showcase, the event will bring together the essence of the state—its age-old traditions, diverse cuisine, exquisite handloom and handicrafts, and growing tourism potential—under one roof. A high-level coordination meeting, chaired by Director of Tourism Deepankar Mohapatra at the Tourism Department, underlined the importance of seamless inter-departmental collaboration to ensure the festival’s smooth and impactful execution.

This year’s Odisha Parab will feature 20 stalls representing six key departments, along with 10 exclusive food stalls offering authentic Odia delicacies. The Handloom and Textile Department and the Handicrafts Department will each set up six stalls, highlighting the finesse of Odisha’s weaves and crafts. ORMAS and the Mission Shakti Department will contribute three stalls each, showcasing products crafted by rural entrepreneurs and women’s self-help groups, reflecting the state’s strong grassroots economy.

Adding a unique flavour to the festival, Adisha will present Koraput coffee—an emerging pride of Odisha—bringing national attention to the state’s distinctive agricultural produce rooted in tribal heartlands.

Cultural performances curated by the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture Department will form the soul of the festival, presenting traditional art forms that narrate stories of Odisha’s history, spirituality and community life. These performances aim not only to entertain but also to deepen cultural understanding among audiences in the North-East.

Beyond culture and cuisine, Odisha Parab also serves as a platform for dialogue. Discussions during the meeting explored ways to expand Odisha’s cultural footprint in North-Eastern states and attract industrial and tourism investments from outside the state. Mohapatra emphasised the active involvement of the Odia diaspora in the region, noting that their participation would lend warmth, authenticity and emotional connection to the celebrations.

Senior officials from departments including Tourism, Culture, Handloom and Handicrafts, Mission Shakti, ORMAS, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation, FICCI, and Information and Public Relations attended the meeting, outlining their contributions to the festival.

The Second Odisha Parab stands as more than a festival—it is a bridge of culture and collaboration, reaffirming Odisha’s identity as a land of timeless traditions, creative excellence and growing opportunities, while strengthening bonds with the North-East through shared celebration and mutual respect.