The five-day Konark Festival, which began on Sunday, continues to draw tourists and art lovers from across the globe.

The Sun Temple showcases the best in Kalingan architecture and reflects India’s cultural splendour.

Along with the Konark Festival, the 14th International Sand Art Festival also kicked off in Konark. It transformed the pristine Chandrabhaga beach in Konark into a canvas of creativity. Sand artists from eight countries have joined the Sand Art Festival.

The 35th edition of the Konark Festival is being hosted by Odisha Tourism in collaboration with the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi (OSNA) and the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the festival on Sunday.

The opening evening of the Konark Festival celebrated India’s rich classical dance traditions. The event commenced with an Odissi dance recital by Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Bhubaneswar, followed by a Kathak performance by Malti Shyam and Group, New Delhi.

The Odissi performance began with a soulful invocation to Lord Jagannath, based on Sri Jagannath Astakam by Adi Shankaracharya. It transitioned into “Bhavranga” and “Shakti” narrating tales of divine power and the dynamic energy of Lord Shiva embodied in the feminine form of Shakti.

The Kathak dance recital, Nartan Manjari, performed by Malti Shyam’s group from New Delhi, celebrated the eternal bond between the divine and the devotee through intricate rhythms and fluid movements.