Bhubaneswar, 3/1/2025 ( Odisha Samachar/Rajat Mohapatra )-The 5th National Chilika Bird Festival will be celebrated from January 6 to 12.
Briefing reporters today about the purpose of the festival and its various aspects, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Shri Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said that Odisha is committed to the conservation of invaluable natural heritage and biodiversity. This National Chilika Bird Festival is an endeavour to further enhance the beauty, biodiversity, security and the glorious heritage of community-led conservation of Chilika Lake. Deputy Chief Minister, Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism Department Smt. Pravati Parida will grace the occasion as the chief guest at the National Chilika Bird Festival at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre. Internationally renowned bird experts Dr. Asad Rahmani and Dr. Suresh Kumar and internationally renowned wildlife photographer Dhrutiman Mukherjee will also be present at the inauguration ceremony on January 6.
The arrival of lakhs of migratory birds in the winter season every year enhances the beauty of Chilika lake. This festival is organized every year by the Tourism Department, but this year, as the dept. is engaged in Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, the responsibility of organizing the 5th National Chilika Bird Utsav has been given to the Forest (Wildlife) Department. For this festival, quiz, poster, painting competition have already been organized among the students of high schools and universities of Chilika and Bhubaneswar. They will be awarded at the inauguration ceremony. 60 photographers who have already registered will get the opportunity to observe and photograph birds in Nalban and Mangalajodi from 6th to 8th. Bird art exhibition, live art and poster display by students of BK Arts, Khallikote College and Utkal University of culture will be the cynosure of the festival. Villagers, wildlife photographers of Odisha and school students will participate in this festival. In addition, documentary films on wildlife, photo exhibitions and art exhibitions will be held for school students at the Regional Science Museum for six days from 7th to 12th January from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. During this festival, bird watching walks will be held from 7 am to 8.30 am at Forest Park, Regional Plant Research Centre and Anandavan respectively from 8th to 10th January. Apart from this, the Odisha Bird Conclave is going to be held at Barkula, Chilika from the night of the 10th to the 11th. Bird watchers and researchers from Odisha will hold discussions there and visit the Nalbana, informed Minister Shri Singkhuntia.
In this press conference, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Shri Prem Kumar Jha, Director of Nandankanan and Chief Executive Officer of Chilika Development Authority Dr. V. Nair, Additional Secretary Shri Deben Pradhan, Additional Secretary Shri Dharam Hansda were present and provided a lot of information to the press.