Nabakalebara to be promoted as international festival

Union Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma today said that the Centre will launch media campaign to promote Nabakalebara as an international festival.
Conveying this to Odisha Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, who met him here today, Sharma said the campaign will be released in electronic, print and cyber media, a press release said.
Panda urged Sharma to expedite the reimbursement of funds for which the Utilisation Certificates have already been submitted. He further requested for branding of Nabakalebar as an International Festival and sanctioning funds for the proposed light and sound shows, the release added.
Sharma assured Panda that the Tourism Ministry will make all efforts to provide funds at the earliest for the three light and sound shows proposed to be held at Dhauli, Udayagire/Khandagire caves and at Konark.

The Odisha Tourism Minister also urged Sharma to start an international flight from Bhubaneshwar International Airport to help promote tourism in the state.
Sharma replied that he is very much seized of the matter and assured an early response in this regard.