Bhubaneswar Lights Up With The Exuberance Of FEST 2023

Odisha is currently hosting the latest edition of the hockey world cup in Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela and alongside it the 2nd edition of DoT FEST. The cultural festival has brought about an experience like never before for the people of Bhubaneswar as a specific focus has been kept that every category of the society who visits the .FEST gets to cherish the festival. Hence the brand name .FEST has been crafted wherein F stands for FOOD, E stands for entertainment; S stands for stories – Bhubaneswar Festival of Storytelling (BhuFeSto). Lastly, T stands for trails. Owing to this festival, the 2023 World Cup isn’t just limited to the action on the field. Tourists, fans, and locals are also being treated to storytelling sessions, food festivals, night bazaars, heritage trails, photo exhibitions and much more from the 15th to the 29th of January.

 FEST 2023 has brought millions of people together to celebrate the state's cultural tenacity and embrace tourism. The celebration has transformed into a true city festival by presenting the incredible Bhubaneswar, including its heritage, wildlife, and the numerous temples that date back a thousand years through a host of trails and walks by ‘Ekamra Walks’. The celebration has also shed light on a host of other events as well like the International Food Festival, where international cuisines from 16 countries and delicacies from 24 states of India are being served. Moreover, 4 government of Odisha cafes are also currently serving finger-licking food at the International Food Festival. 

The event is also holding Sebe-Au-Ebe (Then & Now), a photo exhibition to showcase the transformational journey of Bhubaneswar. The Night Bazaar/Flea Market on the other hand is featuring products from more than 120 local artisans, artists, entrepreneurs and new-age designers as part of the cultural spectacle. The purpose of .FEST is to support the state's vibrant culture by providing a platform for the local businesses, designers and artisans of Odisha to exhibit their creations.
The first edition of .FEST was organised in 2018 with the goal of fostering a festive atmosphere in Bhubaneswar. The annual festival was planned to give residents of Bhubaneshwar a unique experience, to which the community has and continues to respond enthusiastically. And given the increased funding for sports and the consecutive hosting of the Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar over the past years, Odisha has emerged as India's sports capital. This status as India's sports capital not only enables the state to capitalise on it and boost tourism but also, with the return of .FEST, highlights the cultural side of Bhubaneswar.
This year’s event is special since it is being held directly in the middle of Bhubaneshwar, the state's capital and a historic place with a wealth of temples and caves dating back thousands of years. .FEST symbolise the elegance, simplicity, and illustrious cultural legacy of the state of Odisha, which is renowned for its heritage sites.

The ongoing festival has seen a slew of Bollywood celebrities, musicians, singers, stand-up artists, and dancers,  make appearances. The visitors have been able to experience trails around the city of Bhubaneswar. Even the food enthusiasts of the city have been seen indulging their taste buds in culinary delights from 16 Hockey World Cup participating countries and 24 states of India. Around 80–90 varieties of international cuisines are being served at the stalls along with different other tasty national and regional delicacies especially curated by Mr. Hemant Oberoi, the Executive Chef of the Taj Hotels. A dream cast of international storytellers from Brazil, Scotland, Singapore, Indonesia, and South Africa along with a number of national as well as several Odia storytellers from India are also currently performing at the BhuFeSto (Bhubaneswar Festival of Storytelling).