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₹2.32 Crore for Pakhala? Odisha Tourism Department Faces Questions Over Festival Spending

Sunil Jena
Odisha Tourism Department's Pakhala Divas celebration comes under scrutiny after reports revealed ₹2.32 crore spent on the event, including Guinness World Record fees, event management, hospitality, hotel accommodation, and promotional expenses, triggering public debate over the use of taxpayer money.

By Sunil Jena | Editor-in-Chief | The Politics Odia

Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government’s ambitious Pakhala Dibasa celebration, organised by the Tourism Department in March, has now become the subject of intense public debate after official expenditure details revealed that over ₹2.32 crore was spent on the event.

While the celebration was projected as an initiative to promote Odisha’s culinary heritage globally, questions are now being raised over whether such a large expenditure from the public exchequer was justified.

According to expenditure details available, the Tourism Department reportedly spent around ₹2.32 crore for organising the event. Of this, approximately ₹1.54 crore was paid to the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) for event management, while another ₹77.88 lakh went to a private event management agency.

The expenditure list also includes nearly ₹31.35 lakh paid towards Guinness World Records certification, about ₹6.6 lakh as supervision charges, and approximately ₹5 lakh towards airfare, hotel accommodation, souvenirs and hospitality for chefs invited from outside Odisha.

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The event also reportedly included spending on designer waistcoats for serving staff purchased through Boyanika, payments to social media influencers for digital promotion, and hospitality expenses across several premium hotels in Bhubaneswar.

One of the most discussed aspects has been reports that bills for chicken biryani and premium bottled mineral water were generated during the Pakhala celebration, prompting critics to question their relevance to an event intended to celebrate Odisha’s traditional fermented rice dish.

Supporters of the programme argue that promoting Pakhala internationally could strengthen Odisha’s tourism brand and food heritage. However, critics contend that cultural promotion should be accompanied by financial transparency and measurable outcomes.

Several observers have also questioned whether the funds could have been utilised for tourism infrastructure, skill development, local entrepreneurship, or support for traditional food businesses instead.

The debate has also shifted towards accountability. Public finance experts believe that whenever taxpayer money is used for large promotional events, governments should place before the public a transparent assessment of expenditure, expected benefits, tourism impact and long-term returns.

The controversy has once again highlighted the broader debate between cultural branding and public expenditure, raising questions about priorities in the use of government resources.

The Political Lens By Sunil Jena

Public spending on cultural promotion is not unusual, but transparency determines public trust. When significant taxpayer funds are allocated for promotional events, governments are increasingly expected to disclose measurable outcomes, financial accountability and long-term public value. Such transparency strengthens both governance and public confidence.

Author Profile

Sunil Jena
Sunil Jena is the Editor of The Politics Odia, an independent digital platform that delivers fearless political analysis, ground reports, and investigative stories from Odisha. Known for bold storytelling and grassroots connections, Sunil is shaping a new era of regional journalism.

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