Winter festival begins at Daringbadi

In its bid to attract tourists to Daringbadi in Odisha's Kandhamal district, a three-day 'Winter Festival-2015' was inaugurated today.
The festival jointly organised by the District Cultural Council, Kandhamal and department of Tourism and Culture organised such a festival for the first time at Dariggbadi, often described as the Kashmir of Odisha for its scenic beauty and green lush throb.
The three day function aims to attract the tourists to this much neglected tourist spot of the state, N Thirumala Nayak, Collector of Kandhamal district said.
Inaugurating the winter festival this evening when the temperature of the area was 4.5 degree Celsius, Tourism and Culture minister Ashok Kumar Panda said, the state government has already placed funds worth Rs 1 crore for the tourism development of Kandhamal.

Daringbadi has got tremendous tourism potentials for its scenic beauty, dense green forest and wild life, but which are yet to be explored due to lack of some constraints. The state government has been actively considering to place Daringbadi in the map of the Odisha tourism by developing its infrastructure and other amenities.
Attending the function as the Chief guest Debi Prasad Mishra, Minister Industries, School and Mass Education in his speech said, the state government should take all possible steps to make Daringbadi a fullfledge tourist spot.

Pranab Prakash Dash Minister Energy said, tribal culture has a very rich history and traditions are the cream of the civilisation. It should be preserved for the next generations to come, he said.

Prasanna Patsani MP, Bhubaneswar, Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh, secretary of Tourism and Culture department Arbind Padhi, Jacob Pradhan local MLA of G Udayagiri and Susant Pradhan, Block Chairman Daringbadi spoke on this occasion as guest of honour.
On this occasion, a development exhibition was held in which 60 stalls were opened by different government and non government organisations. A colourful cultural bonanza was also organised which attracted thousands of people specially the tribal across Daringbadi block and neighbouring Ganjam and Gajapati districts.