​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, August 23: Odisha Parab 2026 in Varanasi on Sunday hosted an Odia Diaspora Meet, bringing together members of the Odia community, cultural personalities, professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to deepen their cultural, social and economic connection with Odisha.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida attended the event as the Chief Guest, while Anil Rajbhar, Minister for Labour and Employment and Coordination, Government of Uttar Pradesh, was present as the Guest of Honour.

Addressing the gathering, Parida highlighted the important role of the Odia diaspora in preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich cultural heritage while contributing to the state’s social and economic development.

The programme also featured Tourism Investor and Business-to-Government (B2G) interactions, providing a platform for government representatives, investors and industry stakeholders to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities in Odisha’s tourism sector.

A dedicated Tourism Roadshow showcased the state’s diverse tourism attractions, highlighting 15 master destinations, including Puri, Konark, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, Lalitgiri, Hirakud, Chilika, Bhitarkanika and Similipal. The roadshow focused on investment opportunities in eco-tourism, wildlife, adventure and experiential tourism.

Odisha’s emerging potential in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector was also showcased, along with the incentives offered to investors in the state’s tourism industry.

The event highlighted Odisha’s larger development vision underOdisha Vision 2036andOdisha Vision 2047, with tourism positioned as a key driver of a prosperous, inclusive, sustainable and globally recognised Odisha.

Dr Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture, Government of Odisha; Padma Shri Sribhas Chandra Supakar; Prof Gopabandhu Mishra, President of Varanasi Odia Samaj; and Prateek Hira, Chairperson, FICCI UP Tourism Committee, were among those present at the event.