The first preparatory meeting of Bali Jatra 2026 has been held in Cuttack today. The fair to scheduled to start on November 24 and end on December 1, 2026.
Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde said that efforts are underway to organise Bali Jatra 2026 at both the grounds this year. It is worth mentioning here that last year the fair was organized only in the Lower ground. This led to major disappointment among the visitors and the businessmen.
However, this year the Cuttack district administration has given a proposal to the Government of Odisha to organize the historical maritime fair on both the grounds.
Discussions were held on the amusement rides keeping in view the incident that happened last year. More safety will be maintained and there will be a distance between two rides.
Further, the tender framework of Bali Jatra 2026 has been finalized. This year many famous celebrities will perform in the historical fair.
What Is Bali Jatra
The Bali Jatra is a festival that commemorates the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. The festival is celebrated annually in Cuttack, Odisha, and attracts million 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, 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. Indian women perform ‘Boita Bandana’, they make boats of paper or banana leaf (sholapith) 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 organized by Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Odisha.
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