The third evening of the Gopalpur Beach Festival reached new heights of grandeur as Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy inaugurated the cultural programmes as the Chief Guest, captivating a massive gathering of lakhs on the pristine shores.
Addressing the sea of spectators, Padhy declared that Ganjam has always been the first district to raise its voice whenever Odisha’s language and culture faced threats. “Ganjam will continue to lead in realising the vision of a Developed India and Developed Odisha,” she asserted. Overwhelmed by the festival’s scale—from the traditional sea worship and arrival of Lord Kachchhapa to the magnificence of the stage named after Raja Ramachandra Mardaraj—she praised the showcase of Lord Jagannath’s rich culture alongside performances from across the state and country. She also urged collective responsibility to keep Odisha’s beaches clean and well-maintained.
Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling described the divine experience of worshipping deities on Gopalpur’s shores as indescribable, emphasising that such a grand celebration of Odisha’s art, literature, culture, and prosperity is possible only under a “double-engine government.”
Festival architect and Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena expressed confidence that, with everyone’s cooperation, the event will soon become a unique global attraction. Digapahandi MLA and cine star Dr Sidhant Mohapatra proposed including the Gopalpur Beach Festival in the official tourism calendar to boost its outreach and draw more visitors.
Bhanjanagar MLA Pradyumna Nayak credited the festival’s transformation from a single-day event into a multi-day spectacle to the blessings of Ganjam’s presiding deities, Minister Jena’s efforts, and the district administration.
The evening turned electrifying as leading Odia film stars—including Siddhanta Mahapatra, Arindam Roy, Buddhaditya Mohanty, Ushasi Mishra, Sritam Das, Pupinder Singh, Satyajit Pradhan, Pragnan Ranjan Khatuwa, Shankar Pradhan, and Sheetal Patra—delivered mesmerising performances of acting, dance, and music late into the night.
Cultural troupes from across regions enthralled the audience with diverse performances: Utkalika Dance Institute, Soul Dance Academy, Lalit Cultural Academy, JDT Dance Academy, Aradhya Dance Academy, Rockstar Dance Academy, Kalanjali Artistry, Pratima Rath & Troupe (Koraput), Bonkopou Cultural Group (Assam), Dhol Mahuri Kala Parishad (Balangir), Veena Pani Rupchand Chhau Dance Group (West Bengal), MEM Entertainment, and Chendamelam folk dance troupe.
Distinguished personalities who brought pride to Ganjam and athletes excelling in beach sports were felicitated by the dignitaries.
Prominent attendees included State Child Protection Commission Chairperson Smt. Babita Patra, Gopalpur NAC Chairman A. Janakiram, Southern Revenue Commissioner Sangram Keshari Mahapatra, Southern Range IG Niti Sekhar, Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, and SP Shubhendu Patra.
