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Bali Yatra: Before the invaders arrived, Odisha or Utkala was a land of trade and commerce. You can learn about Odisha’s ancient history by looking at the sculptures in our temples. While historians argue that India had little contact with other countries such as Africa or Europe, the ancient sculptures in the Konark temple refute their claims.
Giraffe and African people statues can be found on the Konark temple. It shows that Odisha was a cultural and commercial center. Our forefathers were so evolved that they could communicate with Africans via waterways.
Historians have purposefully distorted Odisha’s rich past. In any case, we can still trace and show historical evidence of Odia people sailing to Java, Sumatra, Bali, and Indonesia for trading purposes.
The word ‘Bali Jatra’ refers to a journey to the island of Bali. Every year, a fair is held in Cuttack, Paradeep, and other locations to commemorate the journey of Odia merchants. It is now also organized in Bhubaneswar and other cities. ‘Bali Yatra’ is also known as ‘The fair on the dunes’ by some. Because ‘Bali’ signifies sand in Odia and ‘Jatra’ also means fair, some people think this. The setting for ‘Bali Jatra’ is sandy, such as the banks of rivers or the sea. People come and enjoy ‘Bali Jatra’ and buy things for their home and daily uses. Lights, decorations, dance, and other events are also organized to attract people.
On the anniversary of Karttika Purnima today, the 8-day historic Bali Yatra began on a high note on the bank of the Mahanadi near Gadagadia ghat in Cuttack.
This year, the largest marine trade expo had approximately 14,00 stalls, including 420 given by ORMAS (Odisha Rural Development & Marketing Society).
The ORMAS stalls are located in a special gallery named Cuttack-in-Cuttack Pavilion, which is dedicated to showcasing ‘country Cuttack.’
It will show the village culture, traditions, and so forth. Along with this, the main attractions are 30 feet high sand art, LED lights, and a laser show.
The first-ever Aquarium Tunnel is the main feature of this year’s Bali Yatra. Visitors will love the walk-through tunnel aquarium and the opportunity to observe numerous marine species.
The 200-foot-long, 60-foot-wide tunnel aquarium will house over a thousand different species of marine fish. Small sharks, jellyfish, and numerous colored fishes and octopuses will catch tourists’ attention.
It will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to observe both marine and freshwater fish up close.
The fair, which is regarded as Asia’s largest open-air trade, represents Odisha’s strong historical ties with Southeast Asia.
The Bali Yatra begins with the Boita Bandana, which is performed on Karttika Purnima. Odia inhabitants float miniature boats constructed of cork, colored paper, and banana tree barks in rivers or bodies of water with lighted candles to celebrate the state’s rich maritime trade.
