National recognition for Cuttack Bali Jatra, tagged 'National Fair'

The Central government on Thursday accorded ‘National Fair’ tag to Odisha’s famous Bali Jatra (traditional trade fair), which is organised every year in Cuttack City.

This information was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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Bali Jatra is a festival that commemorates the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. The festival attracts millions of visitors.

The term Bali Jatra literally means ‘Voyage to Bali’. Every year, Kartika Purnima marks the day that the seafaring traders departed for the Indonesian islands.

For this festival, the people of Odisha gather in large numbers in colourful attire to celebrate their glorious maritime history. The celebration features grand fairs, elaborate rides, food and dance. Odia women perform ‘Boita Bandana’, they make boats of paper or banana tree parts with lighted lamps inside and float them down the Mahanadi as a part of the celebrations.

The Bali Jatra celebrates the ingenuity and skill of those expert sailors who made Kalinga, one of the most prosperous empires of its time.

The festival is organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Govt. of Odisha.

The Jatra facilitates cultural exchange between Odisha and other States, promoting cross-cultural understanding. The Jatra also provides a platform for traditional Odia artists, craftsmen and musicians to showcase their skills which help to revive and promote Odia culture.

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Besides, ‘Samudramanthan’, a three-day National Dhara event, was organised at Odisha Maritime Museum in Cuttack under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to focus on the State’s glorious seafaring history, coinciding with the inauguration of the historic Bali Jatra.

The event included panel and round-table discussions on the country’s maritime history locations, traditions, ship building, navigation, trade and cultural exchange, maritime security and international law.