Cuttack, Nov 27: The celebrated Bali Yatra, carrying the maritime legacy of the ancient Kalingan empire, commenced in Cuttack on Tuesday evening.
Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha attended as the Chief Guest and inaugurated the fair, with notable attendees including Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Member of Parliament for Cuttack, Rajashree Mallick, Member of Parliament for Jagatsinghpur, and Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain.
Spanning nine days, this event stands as one of the most eagerly anticipated fairs in the coastal Odisha region.
The annual fair, dedicated to the celebration of the rich maritime history of Odisha, will continue till December 4. The Cuttack district administration and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have arranged for the smooth execution of the eight-day event.
As many as 1,800 stalls displaying various handicrafts and other household goods are expected to come up on the fairground this year. The Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society are set to operate a minimum of 400 stalls at this edition of Bali Yatra, as stated by an official.
Various cultural troupes from Odisha and other states are scheduled to perform traditional dances such as Odissi, Chhau, Bihu, Mahari, Gotipua, Sambalpuri, Kathak, Marathi folk dance, Bengali folk dance, Santali folk dance, and Paika dance on different evenings throughout the fair. A folk dance troupe from Bangladesh is also slated to grace Bali Yatra with their performance.
