Odisha to hold bird festival to showcase Chilika’s tourism potential

To be held in January, the carnival aims to attract domestic, foreign tourists

By Our Correspondent

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 8: The Odisha government is planning to host bird festival in Chilika Laka, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.

The festival will be jointly organised by tourism and forest departments in January next year.

The exact date for the festival is yet to be finalised. However, the authorities are planning to hold the festival in January second or third week, sources in the state tourism department said.

The bird festival is expected to attract a number of tourists – both domestic and foreign – to the lake during this winter.

There will be various programmes like photo exhibition, painting competition, photography, migratory bird watching sessions and many more during the festival.

Sources said that special arrangements will be made in Nalabana and Mangalajodi islands in the lake involving the brave tour operators in the event.

A large number of migratory birds flock Chilika during winter every year. They enhance the beauty of the lake and islands.