5-day Puri beach festival to kick start from Nov 23

Bhubaneswar, Nov 3 (UNI) Actor-MP Hema Malini and her daughter Isha Deol will perform in this year Puri beach festival beginning on November 23.

The festival is being organised since 1993 to promote culture, cuisine,handicrafts, handloom and arts of the state and boost tourism.

J K Mohanty, Chairman, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Orissa (HRAO), the organiser of the mega event, said Indian idols Amit Paul and Ankita, Dhiman Sarkar ballet troupe from Kolkata, Bhangra dance from Punjab, Siddi Dhamal from Gujarat, Purulia Chhau, Bharatanatyam from South and folk dances of Orissa would be presented by eminent artistes during the five-day festival.

Mr Mohanty said for the first time the HRAO would organise beach cricket, beach volleyball and beach kabbadi among girls.

A country boat race and para-sailing would be the other highlights of the festival, he said.

Mr Mohanty said Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare is scheduled to inaugurate the function in the presence of Speaker Maheswar Mohanty,Minister for Tourism Debi Prasad Misra and Information and Public Relations Oficer Debasis Nayak.

Noted Bollywood actress Vaijantimala Bali would grace the function.

UNI