Author : Neel Achary Date : December 22, 2025
parab
Pic Credit: https://x.com/CMO_Odisha

Koraput Parab-2025: Where Tribal Heritage Drives Economic Growth

Koraput’s celebrated Parab festival, held annually since 1996, is much more than a cultural extravaganza—it has emerged as a vibrant platform for promoting tribal heritage, tourism, and local economic development. The 2025 edition, attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, highlighted the unique blend of tradition and progress that defines Koraput .

Celebrating Tribal Culture

The festival showcases Koraput’s rich tribal identity, with folk dances like Dhemsa, traditional music, and indigenous art forms drawing thousands of visitors. PARAB not only preserves these living traditions but provides a stage for the local community to share their unique heritage with the world. Visitors experience the simplicity, unity, and cultural richness of the region while gaining insight into its art, crafts, and culinary practices.

Business and Economic Initiatives

While cultural performances form the heart of PARAB, the festival also serves as a platform for business promotion, infrastructure announcements, and livelihood development. Key initiatives discussed and launched during the 2025 festival include:

1. Infrastructure Projects:
CM Majhi inaugurated 16 projects and laid the foundation for 70 more, totaling ₹545 crore in investment for the Koraput district. These projects focus on essential sectors such as irrigation, healthcare, small-scale industries, roads, bridges, and urban hostels, creating a strong foundation for holistic development.

2. Millet Cultivation & Promotion:
Koraput is gaining national recognition for its millet production, famously referred to as “Shri Anna”. Under the festival spotlight, discussions emphasized expanding cultivation, improving market access, and even serving Koraput coffee in the Parliament canteen, highlighting the global potential of local produce.

3. Promotion of Local Products:
PARAB provides a stage for promoting signature regional products such as Koraput coffee, black rice, and Kotpad sarees. By giving artisans and producers visibility, these products can reach national and international markets, boosting local entrepreneurship.

4. Support for Artisans and SHGs:
The festival features Crafts Mela and Pallishree Mela, offering local artisans and women’s self-help groups (SHGs) an opportunity to showcase handmade crafts. This exposure translates into direct income generation and supports the preservation of traditional skills.

5. Diversification of Livelihoods:
Farmers are encouraged to adopt allied activities such as fish farming, poultry, goat rearing, and duck farming alongside traditional agriculture, enhancing their income security and promoting sustainable rural livelihoods.

6. Tourism Development:
As a national-level tribal festival, PARAB attracts domestic and international tourists. The event leverages Koraput’s scenic landscapes, rich culture, and crafts, positioning the district as a growing hub for eco-tourism and cultural tourism.

A Platform for Inclusive Development

PARAB-2025 demonstrates how cultural festivals can transcend mere celebration. By linking tribal heritage with tourism, agriculture, crafts, and entrepreneurship, the festival has become a driver of socio-economic development, providing sustainable livelihoods and boosting regional growth.

Chief Minister Majhi aptly summarized the festival’s dual significance: PARAB preserves Odisha’s tribal identity while serving as a catalyst for development, making the region a model for integrating culture with commerce.

Conclusion

Koraput Parab is more than a festival; it is an engine of growth. From promoting millet and coffee to uplifting artisans and encouraging infrastructure-led development, the festival strengthens Koraput’s economic, cultural, and social fabric. For readers and investors alike, PARAB-2025 signals a region rich in tradition, opportunity, and potential, where heritage and business progress hand in hand.