Cuttack: The seven-day long trade fair Bali Yatra will now be organised as a State-level festival. This has been informed by Housing & Urban Development Minister Pratap Jena.
Reportedly, a notification for its government recognition will be published soon. Besides, the Urban Development and Culture departments will provide necessary financial assistance to the historic fair.
Following an elaborate discussion and meeting about the trade fair, the Cuttack District Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani also gave confirmation regarding the development.
In the Hindu month of Kartik (October – November), the city of Cuttack in Odisha celebrates a renowned festival known as Bali Yatra. The name Bali Yatra means ‘A Voyage to Bali’. This popular festival of Odisha marks its beginning from the day of the full moon and continues for the next seven days at Gadagadia Ghat of the River Mahanadi where they worship the Lord Kartikeswar – the presiding deity of this festival.
The legend of the festival says that the Odishan mariners considered the day of Poornima (full moon) highly auspicious to start any sail to distant lands. Moreover, on this day, a grand fair is also organized where more than 24 states of traditional items are kept on display. Gandhi Shilpa Bazaar is another attraction of the festival that boasts around 150 stalls of handicraft items and traditional silver. Also, the concerned authority also organizes boating opportunities for the visitors which is the highlight of this beautiful festival in Cuttack.
Prasanta Patnaik