State - January 7, 2026

Birding, Community Engagement and Boat Racing Mark Day-2 of 6th National Chilika Bird Festival

team maverick January 7, 2026

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• Mangalajodi and Nalabana Host Birding Experiences; Boat Race Heats Up at Barkul
• Conservation, Culture and Competition Converge at Chilika on Day-2

Bhubaneswar, January 2026: The second day of the 6th National Chilika Bird Festival, featured guided birdwatching programmes, community engagement activities and traditional boat racing, reinforcing Odisha’s conservation-led tourism model. The festival is being jointly organised by the Department of Tourism and the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha.

Birding trails were conducted at Mangalajodi and Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, with participation from experts, photographers, students and nature enthusiasts, alongside a Bird Race facilitated by the eBird team.

At OTDC Barkul, the Chilika Country Boat Race drew wide attention with 74 teams competing, of which 42 teams qualified for the semi-finals and finals.

Day-3 will feature further birding activities, capacity-building sessions for boatmen, expert panel discussions and cultural performances including Odissi dance and an award ceremony.

Aliva Avilipsa