Feast & fest: Odisha goes all out for Hockey World Cup that begins Jan 13

State's biggest cultural extravaganza to coincide with tournament that is expected to increase tourism by 70%

Teams of Argentina and South Africa will kick off this year’s edition of FIH (International Hockey Federation) World Cup Hockey in the swanky 16,000-capacity Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on January 13, 2023.

With 16 teams, including 2018 champions Belgium, participating in the 17-day sporting event (it ends on January 29) in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, the Odisha government is expecting a surge of over 70 per cent in the number of tourists visiting the state during the tournament.

In 2021, Rs 356.38 crore was earmarked for the makeover of the Kalinga Stadium and the construction of the brand new 20,000-capacity hockey stadium at Rourkela (the biggest in Asia) for organising this tournament.

Two days after the World Cup kicks off, the second edition of Odisha’s .FEST (pronounced Dot Fest) will also return to Bhubaneswar.

With a budget of Rs 12 crore earmarked for .FEST this year, the carnival promises to be bigger and better as it celebrates the state's culture through “food, entertainment, art, and trails” (hence the acronym FEST).

The state expects 15,000 visitors to turn up daily at the IDCO Exhibition Ground and other venues for the .FEST, which will be held January 15 to 29.

Celebrated chef Hemant Oberoi is curating the food fiesta that will see global cuisines from all the 16 participating countries, along with regional cuisine from Odisha and other parts of the country.

Just like the first edition in 2018, which aimed at attracting tourists to explore the various cultural aspects of Bhubaneswar, the second edition of .FEST promises to be grander in that it will, for the first time, host a midnight bazaar along with a flea market showcasing handicrafts by some of the award-winning artisans and craftspersons of the state.

The piece de resistance is a unique photo exhibition showing the city of Bhubaneswar from the 1860s to the present time, tracing its architectural and landscape changes. Immense research went into creating this exhibition with government sources, archival institutes, local photo studios, and residents getting invited by the state government to share hundreds of photos that are now going to be shown as part of the exhibition.

That apart, the event will have a Bollywood extravaganza with a line-up of artistes, including actors, dancers, and musicians such as Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Amit Trivedi, Shilpa Rao, Guru Randhawa, Neeti Mohan, Harshdeep Kaur, Shiamak Davar, among others.

Additionally, there will be walks and nature, food, and museum trails by the state-run Ekamra Walks (named after the old temple city of Bhubaneswar) at tickets priced between Rs50 and Rs 250.

About the city’s largest festival, Balwant Singh, vice-chairman, Bhubaneswar Development Authority, says, “We have a great line-up of activities, live performances, food trails, and storytelling, and we are excited to be able to provide memorable experiences by giving the visitors an opportunity to engage in a fun, intimate environment in the city.”

For the record, the Odisha government has been supporting and hosting some of the best sporting events in the country, including hockey, in both men and women category.

Touted as the ‘sports capital of India’, the sports budget was increased to Rs 911 crore for FY 2022-23, up from Rs 405 crore in FY22. The budget took into account the development of sports infrastructure, education, and support to the Khelo India Youth Games, the annual national-level multidisciplinary grassroots games.

According to an earlier article in Business Standard, in 2018, when Odisha hosted FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup for the first time, it led to an estimated 60 per cent higher tourist footfall in the state.

Most of the hotels back then were sold out and according to the tentative figures collated by Odisha's tourism department, the state received 1.61 million and 2.22 million domestic tourists in November and December respectively in 2018. And, foreign arrival numbers were up by 50 per cent.

“There has been a sea change in sports culture in Odisha, especially between 2018 and 2022, with emphasis not just on hockey but also football, shooting, badminton, among other sports,” says a government source, adding, “We are expecting many more sporting institutes to open in Odisha in the coming year.”

For instance, Dalmia Bharat Gopichand Odisha Badminton Academy is all set to open by early this year in Bhubaneswar. In the last two-three years, Naval Tata Hockey Academy and Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance Centre have been launched, besides other hockey villages and sporting institutes getting inaugurated by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other dignitaries.   

Given that the hockey tournament and .FEST event are taking place for the first time after the pandemic and after the devastation caused by Cyclone Fani, it is a homage to the resilience and the undying spirit of the state.

Hockey and more

• Matches will be telecast live on Star Sports First, Star Sports Select 2 and Star Sports Select 2 HD TV channels. Live streaming will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app
   
• Odia mountaineer Sidharth Routray featured the Hockey World Cup banner at Mt Vinson, the highest peak of Antarctica, while scaling the summit this week
   
• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced an award of Rs 1 crore for each player if Team India lifts the trophy
   
• Olly, the official mascot, represents the state’s endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle