**Bhubaneswar:** 2018 in Odisha was marked by a number of events that became the talk of the town for their participation, sheer brilliance and presentation. While most of these events were held in the concluding two months of the year, it will not be wrong to term this year as the grandest and most luxurious in the history of the State.
The top 5 events which made a mark this year in Odisha are:
**1. Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup**
The entire World’s eyes were on Kalinga Stadium from November 27- December 16 when the Hockey World Cup unfolded amidst the frenzy of Odisha’s die-hard hockey fans. With world-class sportspersons, top Bollywood stars and an extravagant setup, the World Cup remained the buzz for most of the year.
Read: [Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup Anthem Composer AR Rahman Meets Naveen Patnaik](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-men-s-hockey-world-cup-anthem-composer-ar-rahman-meets-naveen-patnaik)
Read: [Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 Inaugurated In Grand Style](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-men-s-hockey-world-cup-2018-inaugurated-in-grand-style)
Read: [Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018: Shah Rukh Khan Enthralls Kalinga Stadium](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-men-s-hockey-world-cup-2018-shah-rukh-khan-enthralls-kalinga-stadium)
Bhubaneswar went through a transformation for the event that put Odisha on the World map. From buses to public sharing bicycles and from wall arts to laser shows, the capital city became unrecognizable in 2018, a change that was much appreciated by the foreigners.
Read: [Bhubaneswar, A Beautiful, Vibrant & Enchanting Place: Samantha Quek](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/bhubaneswar-a-beautiful-vibrant-enchanting-place-samantha-quek)
Read: [Bhubaneswar 2.0: Hear What People From Outside Odisha Think About The Revamped City & Its Festive Mood](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/bhubaneswar-2-0-hear-what-people-from-outside-odisha-think-about-the-revamped-renovated-city-its-festive-mood)
Meanwhile, the energetic and nail-biting matches in the evening also provided a much needed recreation for people in the end of the year. The champion Belgium team praised Odisha for hospitality before leaving for their home country. In a nut shell, it was all well that began and ended well and Odisha and its people have obviously carved a niche in global arena proving its ancient mantra ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ worthwhile.
Read: [Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018: India Hammer Canada To Enter Quarters In Style](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-men-s-hockey-world-cup-2018-india-hammer-canada-to-enter-quarters-in-style)
Read: [Odisha Hockey World Cup: Champion Belgium Team Thank People Of Bhubaneswar For Hospitality](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-hockey-world-cup-champion-belgium-team-thank-people-of-bhubaneswar-for-hospitality)
Read: [Know The Real Heroes Behind The Grand Success Of Odisha Hockey World Cup-2018](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/know-the-real-heroes-behind-the-grand-success-of-odisha-hockey-world-cup-2018)
**2. Make In Odisha**
The State Government’s flagship biennial global investors’ summit ‘Make In Odisha’ took place in smart city from November 11-15 and grabbed eyeballs of industry captains and the public alike. The State machinery had put its shoulder to the wheel of this juggernaut to make it a watershed moment in Odisha’s industrialization journey. From hybrid robots to leading industrialists, then second edition of Make In Odisha was definitely a memorable event of the year.
Read: [Stage Set For Flagship Biennial Global Investors’ Summit “Make in Odisha Conclave 2018” From Nov 11-15](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/stage-set-for-flagship-biennial-global-investors-summit-make-in-odisha-conclave-2018-from-nov-11-15)
Read: [Odisha: Hybrid Robot Impresses All In Make In Odisha Conclave’s Inauguration Ceremony](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-hybrid-robot-impresses-all-in-make-in-odisha-conclave-s-inauguration-ceremony)
Read: [Know What Industry Captains Said At Make In Odisha Conclave 2018](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/know-what-industry-captains-said-at-make-in-odisha-conclave-2018)
From early 2018, Odisha Chief Minister had started visiting other States to invite investors by organizing grand road shows. The businessmen stood true to their words and graced the conclave with their presence proving that Odisha is an investor’s dream with all resources at hand. The conclave was marked by formidable partnerships, empowering stories and crores of investments.
Read: [Make In Odisha Conclave-2018: Hear The Speech Of Mission Shakti Empowered Tribal Woman](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/empowered-by-shg-sundergarh-s-tribal-woman-entrepreneur-shares-her-inspiring-story-at-make-in-odisha-conclave)
Read: [Odisha And Japan Form Formidable Partnership At Make In Odisha 2018](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-and-japan-form-formidable-partnership-at-make-in-odisha-2018)
Read: [Odisha Bags Investment Proposals Worth Rs 4.19 Lakh Crore At Make In Odisha Conclave 2018](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-bags-investment-proposals-worth-rs-4-19-lakh-crore-at-make-in-odisha-conclave-2018)
**3. Bhubaneswar City Festival (.FEST)**
For the first time, Bhubaneswar witnessed a city festival named, .FEST, that was marked by international food stalls and musical performances by Bollywood bigwigs Vishal-Shekhar, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Farhan Akhtar, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan and Sona Mohapatra. IDCO Exhibition Ground was lit up from December 1-16 with a slew of ticketed and non-ticketed entertainment programs that brought warmth to the citizens of Bhubaneswar on the chilly winter evenings.
Read: [Inaugural Edition Of .FEST Kicks Off In Bhubaneswar](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/inaugural-edition-of-fest-kicks-off-in-bhubaneswar)
Read: [Winner In Adversary: Vishal-Shekhar Engaged Fans in Bhubaneswar .FEST Though Sound System Failed](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/winner-in-adversary-vishal-engaged-fans-in-bhubaneswar-fest-though-his-sound-system-failed)
Read: [Former Maoists Witness Farhan Akhtar’s Performance At .FEST](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/former-maoists-witness-farhan-akhtar-s-performance-at-fest)
Read: [Shreya Ghoshal Performs To A Packed Crowd At .FEST](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/shreya-ghoshal-performs-to-a-packed-crowd-at-fest)
Read: [Shaan Orchestrates a Magical Music Journey at .FEST, Odisha CM Graces The Occasion](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/shaan-orchestrates-a-magical-music-journey-at-fest-odisha-cm-graces-the-occasion)
Read: [.FEST Bhubaneswar Concludes Under The Spell Of Musical Magicians Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/-fest-bhubaneswar-concludes-under-the-spell-of-musical-magicians-shankar-ehsaan-loy)
**4. Bali Jatra**
One might wonder why Bali Jatra made it to the list as it is an event that occurs every year. But this year’s Bali Jatra was special. In view of the Hockey World Cup, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) announced that the event was going for be held for 11 days instead of a week and a spin-off affair was organized at Kuakhai as well. After a week of face-off between traders and CMC over land allocation, the event finally took off smoothly on November 22.
Read: [Good News! Hockey-Themed Bali Jatra For 11 Days In Cuttack This Year](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/good-news-hockey-themed-bali-jatra-for-11-days-in-cuttack-this-year)
Read: [Cuttack Administration, Traders At Loggerheads Over Land Allotment For Bali Jatra](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/cuttack-administration-traders-at-loggerheads-over-land-allotment-for-bali-jatra)
Read: [Cuttack Bali Jatra: A Shopper’s Delight & Ultimate Street Food Destination](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/cuttack-bali-jatra-a-shopper-s-delight-ultimate-street-food-destination)
Apart from the lip-smacking delicacies and the run-of-the-mill shops, here are some side stories from the annual affair that caught the attention of OMMCOM NEWS.
Read: [Mini India In Cuttack Bali Jatra: Vendors From Several States Flock Millennium City For The Annual Mega Fair](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/mini-india-in-cuttack-bali-jatra-vendors-from-several-states-flock-millennium-city-for-the-annual-mega-fair)
Read: [Bali Jatra Tales: Banjara Children Wait Eagerly To Attend This 10-Day School Every Year](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/bali-jatra-tales-banjara-children-wait-eagerly-to-attend-this-10-day-school-every-year)
Read: [Bali Jatra Tales: Stalls By Jail Inmates, Differently Abled Attract Visitors](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/bali-jatra-tales-stalls-by-jail-inmates-differently-abled-attract-visitors)
**5. Ekamra Walks & Story Telling Fests**
Bhubaneswar and its timeless charm, tradition, history and culture can be best explored by the heritage walks jointly sponsored by BDA, BMC and Odisha Tourism in which the people get guided walkthroughs which re-invent the way we connect to our culturally rich city and take its story forward. Launched in 2017, the walks crossed its hundredth edition in November this year and were also graced by US Ambassador Kenneth Juster.
Read: [Odisha: Three More Walks, Two Cycle Trails To Add To Bhubaneswar’s Tourism Map](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-three-more-walks-two-cycle-trails-to-add-to-bhubaneswar-s-tourism-map)
Read: [Odisha: US Ambassador Joins Ekamra Walks In Bhubaneswar](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/us-ambassador-joins-ekamra-walks)
Read: [100th Ekamra Walks: Elderly Woman Observing ‘Habisa’ Explains Philosophy Behind Rituals](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/100th-ekamra-walks-elderly-woman-observing-habisa-explains-philosophy-behind-rituals)
Read: [Return Of Odissi To Ekamra Walks Leaves Visitors Spellbound](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/return-of-odissi-to-ekamra-walks-leaves-visitors-spellbound)
In a first of its kind initiative, an International Storytelling Festival was exclusively organized for children under the city festival “.FEST”. ‘BhuFeSto’ was curated by Bakul Foundation, a volunteering movement that has been leading efforts at reading promotion and storytelling across the State. The Festival was held from 6th to 10th December simultaneously at three locations across the city: Buddha Jayanti Park in Chandrasekharpur, Indira Gandhi Park opposite Secretariat and Kharavela Park near the historic Jain heritage site Khandagiri-Udayagiri from 2.30 PM to 7.30 PM.
Read: [Odisha: Story-Telling Festival `BhuFeSto’ At 3 Bhubaneswar Parks To Educate, Entertain Kids From Dec 6](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-story-telling-festival-bhufesto-at-3-bhubaneswar-parks-to-educate-entertain-kids-from-dec-6)
Read: [Bhufesto Opens To Packed Audiences](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/coke-studio-showcased-at-fest-bhufesto-opens-to-packed-audiences)
Read: [Special Sessions For Children With Visual And Hearing Disabilities Held At BhuFeSto](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/special-sessions-for-children-with-visual-and-hearing-disabilities-held-at-bhufesto)
Apart from the above-mentioned grand events, the yearly [Konark festival](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-konark-festival-commences-chandrabhaga-dazzles-with-finest-sand-artistry-from-across-the-globe), International sand art festival at Chandrabhaga and [Toshali](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-national-toshali-crafts-mela-begins-from-dec-28-in-bhubaneswar) Crafts Mela were also organized that attracted a lot of tourists and locals alike. With such an action-packed 2018, denizens of Odisha now look forward to an even more exciting and extravagant 2019.