Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated Purvasha Folk and Tribal Art Museum, set up at Barkul near Chilika, for tourists at a function in state secretariat here today.

Inaugurating the tribal art museum, Patnaik said that the museum will play a significant role in promoting, protecting and projecting Odisha's cultural heritage at a global platform.

"Art is the manifestation of our finer sensibilities. Culminating from the core of our heart, it gives our inner self an identity. It is not about shape or colours, it is all about our dreams, struggle, pursuits and soul searching that give a different meaning to our life," he said.

Odisha has a rich cultural and artistic heritage. We have experts and practitioners of various forms of art and crafts in our state. Our traditional, folk, classical and contemporary dance and music forms, and our tribal dance and songs speak of our rich heritage and cultural identity. Our unique handicrafts, silver and filigree works, terracotta, pottery, golden grass and cane works, appliqué, horn works, stone and wood carvings have brought us glory from all over the world, he added.

The Society for Development of Rural Literature has been set up to promote the cultural heritage of Odisha. The museum will preserve, protect and also project our rich cultural heritage for the posterity. The society has also set up a documentation and Research Centre, and is organising Folk Carnival to showcase our inimitable culture. I hope that the museum will evolve as a vibrant centre of cultural activities and tourist destination, he further said.

The CM also launched the website of ODIART Centre.

With launching of the Purvasha tribal art museum, the tourists from across the country and overseas flocking Chilika to enjoy serenity of Nature, can collect the experience of tribal art.

The Tribal Art Museum, which has 16 galleries, is set up at Barkul, around 200 mt from Panthanivas. The structure constructed by ODIART is situated in 5 acre area. It features Odisha's traditional art such as -- Mukha, Pattachitra, Manjapa card, painting, Chandua (canopies). Apart from the museum, there is a theatre for dance and dance drama and a library 'Prafulla' on the premises of the building.

There is also an art centre for research and documentation of ODIART, a Gurukul has been set up for visual and performing art. Another structure has been constructed for delicious Odisha cuisine.

All types of facilities are available for the tourists in Chilika for boating and to have darshan of Maa Kalijai. However, it is yet to be decided about fee, said ODIART chairman Swadesh Sundar Patnaik.

Notably, the Folk Carnival is scheduled to commence at ODIART Documentation and Research Centre from tomorrow. The tourists in Chilika will enjoy the folk songs and dance of other states in the evening till December 16.