The official celebration of Pakhala Dibasa 2026, organised by the Odisha Tourism Department, has come under scrutiny after expenditure records revealed that the event cost Rs 2,31,92,117, or approximately Rs 2.32 crore.
The disclosed figures have sparked questions over public spending and the allocation of funds for the state-sponsored event.
Breakdown of Expenditure
According to enewsinsight.com, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) received Rs 1,54,03,940, while the event management agency was paid Rs 77,88,177, including GST, for organising the programme.
In addition, supervision charges of Rs 6.60 lakh, along with GST, pushed the total supervision cost to around Rs 86 lakh.
The expenditure records show that Rs 31.35 lakh was paid as the Guinness World Records fee. Food arrangements accounted for Rs 9.44 lakh, while Rs 9.43 lakh was spent on Panthanivas related expenses.
Another Rs 7.59 lakh went towards souvenirs and other materials. The bills also included Rs 2.92 lakh for air travel and nearly Rs 2 lakh for hotel accommodation of officials and guests.
Also Read: Pakhala Dibasa: A peek into side dishes that complete Odisha’s favourite meal
Questions Raised Over Public Spending
Official documents further reveal that OTDC levied 8 per cent and 10 per cent supervision charges on different bills, apart from applicable GST, taking the corporation's total payment to Rs 1.54 crore.
The expenditure details have triggered debate over the scale of public spending on the celebration. Critics have sought greater transparency regarding fund allocation, supervision charges, and the selection of vendors for the event. The Odisha government has not yet issued a detailed clarification on the expenditure.
As questions continue to be raised, the disclosure is likely to fuel further discussion on accountability and transparency in the spending of public funds for government-organised events.