Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government’s Tourism Department, in association with FICCI as the industry partner, today inaugurated Odisha Parab 2026 in Guwahati, marking the commencement of a three-day cultural and tourism showcase. The event celebrates Odisha’s rich heritage, vibrant traditions, exquisite handicrafts, handlooms, authentic cuisine, and diverse tourism experiences, while strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties between Odisha and Assam.
The choice of Guwahati, widely regarded as the gateway to the Northeast, reflects Odisha’s strategic focus on deepening cultural and tourism engagement with the eastern and northeastern regions of the country, fostering greater connectivity, collaboration, and mutual exchange.
Odisha Parab 2026 is being held from January 30 to February 1, 2026, in Guwahati, with the support of the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department, ORMAS, and Mission Shakti.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha and Minister of Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti, and the Tourism Department, Government of Odisha; Diganta Barah, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism Department, Government of Assam; Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Tourism; and Deepankar Mohapatra, Director of Tourism, Government of Odisha. The occasion was attended by tourism stakeholders, industry leaders, members of the Odia diaspora, and invited guests.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister highlighted Odisha Parab as a flagship cultural outreach initiative of the state, aimed at presenting Odisha as an experiential destination that seamlessly blends culture, heritage, cuisine, nature, and modern tourism infrastructure.
Diganta Barah emphasised the importance of inter-state collaboration in tourism promotion and appreciated Odisha’s initiative in showcasing its cultural and tourism strengths in Assam, noting the growing tourism linkages between the two regions.
Senior officials from the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, reiterated that Odisha Parab is not merely a cultural festival but a comprehensive tourism engagement platform that brings together artisans, performers, culinary experts, tour operators, and institutional stakeholders under one roof.
