The Government of Odisha has officially launched the sixth edition of the National Chilika Bird Festival, marking a significant stride in positioning the state as a premier destination for conservation-focused tourism. The inauguration ceremony was held at the State Convention Hall within Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, organized jointly by the Department of Tourism and the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.
A Celebration of Conservation and Community
The event was graced by Pravati Parida, the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism, Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti, as the chief guest. The gathering included Hon’ble MLAs, senior government officials, environmentalists, ornithologists, and delegates from the travel industry and trading communities. Notably, participants from India and 62 foreign countries attended, underscoring the festival's growing international appeal.
In her address, Deputy Chief Minister Parida emphasized the dual ecological and cultural importance of Chilika Lake. She identified the festival as a crucial platform for spreading awareness about conservation, facilitating the exchange of scientific knowledge, and promoting sustainable tourism practices. The festival actively showcases Odisha's community-based conservation model, with a special focus on the globally acclaimed success story of Mangalajodi's community-led birding initiative.
Global Engagement and Cultural Highlights
This year's festival features enhanced international engagement, with participation from foreign tour operators and birding experts from strategic markets including Malaysia, Sri Lanka, England, the Netherlands, and Taiwan. This global footprint solidifies Chilika's position on the world map for birding and eco-tourism.
A major new attraction for the 2026 festival is the inclusion of the Chilika Boat Race, organized by the lake's traditional fishing community. This addition celebrates the living cultural heritage of Chilika and reinforces the role of local people as key stakeholders in managing the fragile wetland ecosystem. To build long-term stewardship, the festival includes capacity-building sessions for local boatmen and educational programs for school children from the Chilika region.
The inaugural day also saw the release of several publications and resources, including pocket guides on birds based on observations of 150 million birds, a magazine on the life of flamingos, and a book on bird conservation in Odisha. Videos on Chilika Lake and satellite telemetry studies of Greater Flamingos were also launched. The contributions of boat association members from Mangalajodi and employees of the Chilika Wildlife Division were formally recognized.
Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism
In a significant development during the event, the State Wildlife Organization, Bhubaneswar, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM). This partnership aims to support the development, marketing, and planning of eco-tourism products across Odisha.
Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism Department, outlined initiatives for developing tourism infrastructure, highlighting Chilika Lake's high potential as a prime eco-tourism spot. Suresh Pant, PCCF & HoFF, stressed Chilika's stellar role in both Odisha's wildlife wealth and in sustaining local livelihoods.
The festival activities will now move to the Chilika region itself, featuring guided birdwatching sessions at Mangalajodi and the Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, expert talks, cultural exchanges powered by local communities, and immersive activities focused on biodiversity conservation and heritage preservation through sustainable practices.
