BHUBANESWAR: The much-awaited light and sound show at Dhauli Shanti Stupa was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday.
The theme of Kalinga War and conversion of King Ashoka from ‘Chandashoka’ to ‘Dharmashoka’ will be portrayed in three languages on all days of the week except Monday.
Actors Bijay Mohanty, Kabir Bedi and Om Puri have done the voiceover for the shows in Odia, English and Hindi languages respectively. Prices for the show has been fixed at Rs 25 per person and Rs 10 per student or child.
The project has been implemented by India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) at a cost of Rs 606 lakh of which Rs 500 lakh has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Tourism as Central share and the balance of Rs 106 lakh is State share.
ITDC will maintain hardware component of the light and sound project for a period of one year. Subsequently, a private agency selected by the ITDC will operate the entire project for five years. Tourism Department, Government of Odisha will pay Rs 85.59 lakh to the agency for the purpose. The Dhauli Development Organisation, headed by Khurda Collector, will look into maintenance of the light and show project.
Sources in the department said the show will be staged from 7 pm to 7.35 pm and 7.45 pm to 8.20 pm in Odia, Hindi and English languages. Among others, Tourism Minister Ashok Panda was present.