The Annual Konark Festival, which is held in an Open Air Auditorium with the temple as the backdrop, showcase a magical parade of India’s classical and traditional dance forms. Eminent dancers and their troupe delight visitors in the wintry evening of early December with dramatic choreographies.
Besides, the dance performances the visitors are treated in an Artist Camp to an exhibition of Odishan temple sculptures which are often described as poetry transcribed on stone. Sand Art exhibition is also another attraction for tourists. It is a festival of classical dances of India performed at the backdrop of the Sun Temple, Konark. The Konark Festival was organised for the first time in 1989 in the Open Air Auditorium at Konark constructed with the financial assistance of Government of India. The festival is being organised for a period of 5 days i.e. from December 1-5 every year.
Conceived as a festival of Classical Dances of India, the objective of Konark Festival is to promote Konark as well as Odisha as place of tourist destination.