Road Trip to Konark Festival 2020 & International Sand Festival

By Amrit Mishra - December 07, 2020

Konark Sun Temple, Evening View

Konark Dance & Music Festival in a sense, it can be called the harbinger of the contemporary festivals of Orissa. The sole aim behind this festival is to bring in many artists into its cultural family and creating international cultural amity and brotherhood. This festival has established its own unique identity in the sense that eminent artistes of national and international repute participate and perform Odissi, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, and other classical, folk & tribal dances/music of our country on the enchanting stage of the Natyashala in the monumental Sun Temple, Konark. The stage and the atmosphere is magnified by the spiritual and aesthetic flavor, in the natural ambiance of casuarinas and cashew trees.

Sand artist in International Sand Festival

Completing the sand art

Odishi Dance Festival

Dance Festival 2020 with artists all across India

Main Entrance of the Sand Festival

I got a chance to visit this festival this year. It was a day ride I started from Bhubaneshwar, early morning visiting PURI the city of Lord Jagannath since it is lockdown the temples are closed, and nothing open, and fewer tourists also.

Puri Temple Main Entrance.

Aghori, at Puri Temple, Odisha

Konark Sun Temple is famous for its unique architecture. Its geometrical patterns and carved wheels used to serve as sun dials. ... Due to its dark color, the temple was called Black Pagoda, and ancient sailors used it as a navigational landmark.