Cuttack’s Bali Yatra to Showcase Odia Culture with New Attractions

The renowned Bali Yatra festival in Cuttack is set to highlight “Odia Asmita,” or pride in Odia culture, according to an announcement by Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, the collector of Cuttack, following a preparatory meeting held on Wednesday. The festival, scheduled from November 15 to November 22, will emphasize the promotion of the Odia language and heritage.

This year’s Bali Yatra will see significant enhancements in organization and management, as a single agency has been engaged to oversee all aspects of the event. This agency will be responsible for land allocation, sanitation, lighting, landscaping, and cultural programs, ensuring a seamless experience for attendees.

The festival commemorates Odisha’s maritime traditions and is held annually on Kartik Purnima. It traditionally celebrates the maritime voyages of merchants to Bali, taking place on the banks of the Mahanadi River. The event attracts lakhs of visitors and involves participation from over 5,000 traders across the country. An estimated business turnover of Rs 100 crores is expected during the fair.

In a historic first, the Bali Yatra 2024 will feature a drone show involving 300 drones, aimed at highlighting the festival’s historical and cultural significance. The drones will display a timeline of notable events in the fair’s history. LED lights will illuminate iconic images from the early years of Bali Yatra, accompanied by a retro-themed soundtrack.

A laser light show will also take place over the Mahanadi River, and a five-minute musical fireworks display will use advanced pyrotechnic technology to create an immersive experience for visitors. There will also be a “Cuttack in Cuttack” enclosure focusing on the city’s contribution to the evolution of Odia cinema, featuring interactive screens, audio-visuals, and digital timelines.

Cultural performances will include 10 to 15 leading Odia singers and Bollywood celebrities such as Sonu Nigam and Suresh Wadekar. The event will feature a Sufi concert, as well as dance performances representing various districts of Odisha and other states.

The festival will also host the national-level Pallishree Mela, organized by ORMAS in collaboration with the Mission Shakti department, KVIC, KVIB, NABARD, and other departments. This mela will consist of 500 stalls and operate under the guidelines set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The event’s fairground spans six acres of upper Bali Yatra ground and 25 acres of lower Bali Yatra ground. Plot registrations commenced on October 15 and will close on October 25, with auctions starting on October 29. Temporary vendor registrations will be conducted on November 13 and 14.