The cultural and economic significance of Hampi festival

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to explore the issues and potential that this festival brings forth. Festivals are an integral part of the cultural and social fabric of India. Festivals have been celebrated from times immemorial. One such festival is Hampi festival, which was in vogue in the Vijayanagara Empire. The Government of Karnataka revived this festival. Design/methodology/approach – Focus group discussions with the festival stakeholders were held to explore the cultural and economic impact of Hampi festival. Recommendations are made regarding improving the festival. Findings – Held at Hampi, a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and the world’s largest open air museum covering 26 sq km, having 550 monuments, Hampi festival is a cultural extravaganza of dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows and spectacular processions, all combined to recreate the grandeur of a bygone era. It has tremendous untapped potential from a cultural and economic perspective. Practical implications – An understanding of the opportunities and issues in organizing the festival, with implications for multiple stakeholders including the government at multiple levels. Originality/value – Building a discussion on how a large-scale festival that generates national and international visitation be leveraged for cultural and economic gains.