Residents ‘upset’ as Dot Fest excluded from Ekamra Utsav | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Several residents have expressed disappointment and frustration over the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA)’s recent decision to exclude the Dot Fest from this year’s Ekamra Utsav schedule.
Dot Fest had gained immense popularity for showcasing exceptional performances by renowned artists from both India and abroad, making it the festival’s most eagerly awaited attraction.
BDA said the Dot Fest would create scheduling conflicts with Adivasi Mela, which started at the IDCO Exhibition Ground on Sunday.
“Cultural performances of Adivasi Mela and that of Dot Fest are different. Both have their distinct features and are eagerly looked forward to,” Shyamili Mohanty, a resident of Siripur, said.
She said musical and cultural performances of Dot Fest feature popular artists every year. “It shouldn’t have been dropped,” Mohanty said.
BDA is proceeding with other events of Ekamra Utsav, which includes the Park Utsav, a comprehensive food festival, elaborate lighting displays, a flea market, and curated Ekamra Walks, which will continue up to Jan 16.
For this year, BDA has allocated a budget of Rs 3.5 crore and partnered with a private event management company to execute the various components of Ekamra Utsav.
“There are many parallel events being organised on the sidelines of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and Ekamra Utsav and Adivasi Mela are a part of it. We had to drop Dot Fest as it conflicts with the venue,” a senior BDA official said.
“Dot Fest served as a major crowd-puller in previous years. This year’s omission of Dot Fest is definitely going to make an impact on the festivities,” Acharya Vihar resident Animesh Patra said.
Dot Fest had gained immense popularity for showcasing exceptional performances by renowned artists from both India and abroad, making it the festival’s most eagerly awaited attraction.
BDA said the Dot Fest would create scheduling conflicts with Adivasi Mela, which started at the IDCO Exhibition Ground on Sunday.
“Cultural performances of Adivasi Mela and that of Dot Fest are different. Both have their distinct features and are eagerly looked forward to,” Shyamili Mohanty, a resident of Siripur, said.
She said musical and cultural performances of Dot Fest feature popular artists every year. “It shouldn’t have been dropped,” Mohanty said.
BDA is proceeding with other events of Ekamra Utsav, which includes the Park Utsav, a comprehensive food festival, elaborate lighting displays, a flea market, and curated Ekamra Walks, which will continue up to Jan 16.
For this year, BDA has allocated a budget of Rs 3.5 crore and partnered with a private event management company to execute the various components of Ekamra Utsav.
“There are many parallel events being organised on the sidelines of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and Ekamra Utsav and Adivasi Mela are a part of it. We had to drop Dot Fest as it conflicts with the venue,” a senior BDA official said.
“Dot Fest served as a major crowd-puller in previous years. This year’s omission of Dot Fest is definitely going to make an impact on the festivities,” Acharya Vihar resident Animesh Patra said.
