Bhubaneswar: It’s inviting and fascinating! The winter chill makes it all the more exciting. Parab 2017, the month-long festivities, in southern Odisha district of Koraput is set to end with the three-day cultural extravaganza beginning today.

The Parab stage brings the varied tribal hues of the region to the fore while preserving the traditional music, dance, art and craft and sports through competitions at the grassroots.

publive-image Picture Courtesy: Facebook/Parab-2017

Initiated in 1996, the festival also allows tourists, visiting the district for its beautiful hills, enchanting streams, spectacular waterfalls and lush green valleys, an insight into the rich cultural heritage of the region.

publive-image File Photo/Picture Courtesy: GK Digest

Special attraction of this year’s cultural show is a Kathak recital on the inaugural day and felicitation of singer Jitendra Haripal, who will be conferred with Sabari Samman, at the closing ceremony. Tribal dances of Odisha, Assam, Haryana, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are sure to steal the show.

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The month-long festivities began on November 19 with MP Jhinna Hikaka and collector Anupam Saha performing the ‘puja’ at Nishanimunda. The launch ceremony was held at Bsinghpur in Borigumma block.

publive-image Picture Courtesy: Facebook/Parab-2017

“Patha Utsav was an added attraction of this year’s Parab. There were cycle race, marathon and kabita sammilani, among others. The event will also witness laying of the foundation stone of the permanent venue for Parab,” said District Culture Officer Akhay Sethi.

publive-image File Photo/Picture Courtesy: Sand Pebbles Tours

The Rs 5 crore project includes an open-air auditorium, exhibition hall, 60 permanent stalls which will be allotted to artisans free of cost and provision for a parking lot, he added.

A bus for ‘Koraput Darshan’ will also be flagged off on the first day of the cultural extravaganza. The bus reached the Jagannath temple at Koraput last morning and will soon be painted with colourful pictures of tourist destinations of the district. According to the temple management, it will be run thrice a week on three different routes.

Parab has a signature tune and a special song, which enlivens the spirit of the festival.