Odisha: Bali Yatra 2019 begins in Cuttack on a grand scale with state-wide celebrations

Bali Yatra, the festival of Odisha organised every year in the honour of the rich maritime history of the state was inaugurated in Cuttack on November 12. Organised at the banks of the river Mahanadi, the festival marks the start of the journey of hundreds of traders from the state who would set sail to the distant land of Bali, Sumatra, Java (Jawa) in Indonesia, Borneo and Sri Lanka, for the expansion of trade and culture.

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Oldest festival and trade fair practices

Bali Yatra is one of the oldest cultures and ancient business trade fair practices of the state and was earlier celebrated on a small scale but will now be celebrated as a state-level festival from this year after Odisha government accorded it a state-level festival status. The eight-day-long festival that kickstarted on November 12, saw over 1,000 stalls coming up and showcasing art traditional items, household craft, food items from Odisha and outside the state. For the first time, the festival has a maritime corner to exhibit the model of the maritime voyage of ancient sea traders, who travelled to the different parts of South-East Asia for Trade and culture extension.

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Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro inaugurated the festival in the presence of Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Ambassador of Indonesia to India who was the special invitee for the function. The Commissionerate Police has also made elaborate arrangements for better security, crowd and traffic management. Keeping in view the large turnout of visitors, provisions for vehicle parking have been made at 10 different locations.

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This year's festival will witness a cultural event showcasing the rich heritage of the state and the country in which the local artists will be putting up a variety of performances in the evenings. The organizers have made provisions of rowing boats and power jets to take a water ride on the banks of the river and have reportedly created an artificial river to recreate the look of the olden days. Apart from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar Bali Yatra was also kicked off at the Kuakhai river bank in Bhubaneswar. As per reports, over 500 stalls have been set up this year.

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