By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 14, 2015 : The five-day twin mega events of Konark Dance Festival and International Sand Art Festival will begin from December 1.

Odisha government’s tourism department is leaving no stone unturned for smooth management of the events w to attract more tourists, Tourism Director Anil Kumar Samal said.

The Konark Festival will be held in the open air auditorium with famous Sun Temple at the backdrop with five renowned Odissi troupes along with famous artistes of Manipuri, Satriya, Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam and Kathak, Samal said.

Similarly, the International Sand Art Festival will have 35 stalls with reputed international and national artistes. Women sand artistes and differently-abled sand artistes will also participate in the festival coordinated by Sudarshan Patnaik. Awards and trophies will be given to the winners.

Samal said emphasis would be on maintenance of law and order, safety and security of VIPs, foreign tourists, traffic management and parking of vehicles. Handicraft and Handloom exhibition will be held in the Urban Haat, Konark.

Since both the events are of International importance and unique in nature, the Department of Tourism is taking extra care and making sincere efforts to attract more and more tourists and art lovers through media campaign and tour packages through the state owned Odisha Tourism Development Corporation, Samal asserted.