SS Rajamouli’s ‘SSMB29’ shoot in Odisha: PARAB, Sabara Srikhetra, others that make Koraput unique

SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film SSMB 29, starring Mahesh Babu, has thrown Odisha’s Koraput district into the global spotlight. While the team has tightened security to curb further breaches, the leaks inadvertently highlighted Koraput’s untamed beauty and rich tribal heritage, drawing attention to its lesser-known wonders.

PARAB Festival: A Celebration of Tribal Identity

Koraput’s PARAB Festival is a cultural uniqueness. Celebrating tribal sports, music, and crafts, it features bamboo pole climbing, traditional dances, and a bustling Haath Market where lakhs of rupees worth of tribal goods exchange hands.

Recently, the 2024 edition highlighted 87 Indigenous recipes with UNESCO recently recognising the region’s textile-dyeing techniques.

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Sabara Srikhetra: A Tribal Synthesis

The 13th-century Jagannath Temple, locally called Sabara Srikhetra, stands out for its unique blend of tribal and Hindu rituals. Tribal Kondh priests conduct ceremonies using ancient Saora scripts, a tradition preserved for centuries.

Further nearby, the Tribal Museum displays over 200 artefacts, including rare Dhokra metalwork, showcasing the region’s 62 indigenous communities like the Bonda, Gadaba, and Paraja.

ALSO READ: SSMB29 shoot in Odisha: Copyright strikes to legal notices, Rajamouli team intensifies crackdown after video leaks

Conservation and Connectivity

Koraput prioritizes eco-tourism, planting 1.2 million saplings in 2024 and banning single-use plastics. A serene eco-tourism hub, it offers solar-powered picnic zones and boating amid dense greenery. Nestled in Odisha’s southern edge, Koraput is a land of lush forests, dramatic waterfalls, and ancient traditions.

The district’s remote landscapes include Deomali Hill, Odisha’s highest peak (1,672 meters), and the thunderous Duduma Waterfalls, where twin cascades plunge 157 meters near the Andhra border. Moreover, the Kolab Reservoir, a serene eco-tourism hub, offers solar-powered picnic zones and boating amid dense greenery.