Government of Odisha will be hosting an international-level coastal festival named Marine Drive Eco Retreat from December 14, 2019 to January 14, 2020. The venue will be near Konark. According to news reports, the decision to celebrate the festival was taken at a meeting headed by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik.
Konark Sun Temple is situated in the eastern State of Odisha near Puri. It is a place dedicated to Lord Surya. The monumental figure of Lord Surya's chariot that is driven by several horses is a unique example of Odisha's medieval architecture.
The temple built in 1250 A.D. has been declared as a world heritage by UNESCO. The 24 spokes in the wheels of Surya’s chariot represent the 24 hours in a day, and for others they are symbolic of the 12 months. Interestingly, the seven horses driving the chariot may represent seven days of the week.