New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate ‘Bharat Parv’, a festival showcasing cuisine and culture of different states, here on Republic Day.

The five-day festival, which will be organised at a ground near Red Fort, will witness states exhibiting their cuisine, classical dance, folk dance and art and craft, among their other cultural highlights, a source said.

“The festival is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi late afternoon on January 26,” the source said, adding that the festival will be on the lines of the ‘Festival of India’ that are organised overseas.

“Tourism and Cultural Minister Mahesh Sharma is himself monitoring the preparations for the festival. If the festival turns out to be successful, then similar events would be organised at different state capitals,” the source added.

The source further said the Republic Day parade jhankis (tableaux) of various states, which till now could not be put into use after the marchpast, would be for “first time” used in decorating the different state’s pavilion at the festival.

Entry will be free for the festival.

PTI