Finance
Cuttack’s iconic Balijatra festival is poised to become an international spectacle, attracting visitors from 13 nations. The nine-day event, which begins November 15, will include foreign vendors, cultural performances, and traditional cuisines.
Dattatreya B Shinde, the Cuttack District Collector, has stated this.
Around 7 lakh people are anticipated to attend the festival, which aims to raise Balijatra’s profile globally.
Confirming that all preparations have been completed, Shinde stated, “Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will open the celebration at 5 p.m. on November 15, with diplomats and high commissioners from 13 nations in attendance. The festival will feature performances by artists from many countries. Furthermore, the ‘Pitha Mahotsav’ will provide a rare opportunity for locals to sample traditional foreign delicacies.”
Highlighting the efforts to make Baliyatra a grand success, he said, “This year’s Baliyatra will feature several attractions, including a laser show and a drone show on the Mahanadi River, with 400 drones participating for the first time. The festival will be held on 34 acres of land below and around 8 acres above, with approximately 2,500 stalls booked. Around 7 lakh people are expected to attend the festival. Special arrangements have been made for the elderly and differently-abled, including 6 eight-seater golf carts and 30 e-rickshaws. The number of toilets has been increased to 380, up from 200 last year.”
“Besides, Baliyatra will showcase Odia heritage and Odia cinema. A Film Festival will be organized, screening popular Odia films, with three shows daily. Films will also be screened at the Biju Pattanaik Film Institute. Bollywood Nights which will feature colourful performances will add zing to the festival”, maintained the Collector.
Bali Yatra 2024 takes place in November and is an auspicious event in Cuttack, Odisha, celebrated on Kartik Purnima. It is the largest trade fair in Odisha. As the name implies, Bali Yatra means “a journey to Bali”. Bali Yatra is mostly celebrated in the state of Odisha (Orissa).Bali Yatra is an important cultural and historical celebration held in the Indian state of Odisha. It commemorates the old maritime trade activities between Oriya (Odisha) tradesmen, known as “Sadhabas,” and Southeast Asian countries such as Bali, Sumatra, and Java in Indonesia.
As a rite and tribute to the region’s old mariners, residents float imitation boats constructed of paper, cork, colored paper, and banana tree bark in rivers and water tanks. Boita Bandana, a well-known practice, involves lighting little lamps in the boat’s hollow. Aside from the tradition, it provides visitors with an incredible spectacle of several boats lit with lamps floating in the river.
- The most notable celebration of Bali Yatra takes place in Cuttack, Odisha, on the banks of the Mahanadi River.
- A grand fair is held, attracting thousands of visitors, featuring a variety of stalls selling traditional Odia delicacies, handicrafts, textiles, and other local products.
