After a two-year hiatus owing to Covid-19 restrictions, excitement among people for the historic Bali Yatra festival in Cuttack was unprecedented.
The yatra ended on a high note on Thursday with several new initiatives by the administration, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). Commissionerate Police winning hearts of millions of visitors.
The new initiatives certainly value-added to Bali Yatra which is part of the ongoing efforts to seek a national festival tag for the festival which is considered the largest open-air fair in Asia.
As per sources, traders and other artisans have been able to do a brisk business at Bali Yatra and the sales turnover could be over Rs 200 crore. The pallishree mela organised by Odisha Rural Development And Marketing Society (ORMAS) has done a business of over Rs 21.31 crores against the total business of around Rs 15 crore in the last edition of the Bali Yatra.
The traders, artisans and other self-help groups, who had set up stalls at Bali Yatra this year, have registered a record sales figure.
“This time the number of stalls was more and this year’s focus was given on certification and enhancing customer satisfaction for which the traders, artisans and others have done a brisk business,” said ORMAS CEO, Bipin Rout.
According to Rout, apart from shopping visitors were able to enjoy various delicacies at the food pavilion which was a major crowd puller this year as well.
Also Read: Guinness Record at Bali Yatra; Cuttack Students Script History by Making 23,000 Boats
Here Are The Key Highlights Of Bali Yatra 2022:
Cuttack In Cuttack Pavillion
The Cuttack in Cuttack pavilion showcasing important structures of the millennium city was the key centre of attraction this year at Bali Yatra. A number of trees were painted and illunimiated which added beauty of the entire space along the banks of Mahanadi river.
Sand Installation
Prominent sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a magnificent sand installation with clay diyas and attempted to enter the LIMCA book of records. The unique sand sculpture showcased a gigantic ‘Boita’ (boat) which was decorated with over 25,000 earthern diyas (lamps).
Laser Show
The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) haD made arrangements for laser light show at Mahanadi River for the first time at Bali Yatra this year.