The historic Bali Yatra, celebrating Odisha’s rich maritime legacy, kicks off on Wednesday in the state's Cuttack district. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is set to inaugurate the carnival this afternoon, with the Indonesian Ambassador, Ina H Krisnamurthi, also in attendance.
Billed as Asia’s largest open-air trade fair, this spectacular carnival will run until November 12. Covering an area of over 60 acres, there are places for shopping, entertainment, and a vast assortment of food stalls. Thousands of traders have already established their pitches, anticipating the arrival of lakhs of visitors daily.
For the occasion of the fair, both the banks of the Mahanadi, one high up above and the other lower, have been turned into an attractive cultural centre.
This year's Bali Yatra has around 1,700 stalls, including that of the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), and participants from other states.
The display ranges from traditional handicrafts and handlooms to contemporary lifestyle products.
Under its special ‘Cuttack in Cuttack’ segment, the fair will highlight the indigenous art and culture of Odisha to boost the Odia language, literature, and cultural heritage, among other attractions. To add to the festive mood, several cultural programmes have been lined up, which will showcase internationally renowned artists including Bollywood playback singer Shreya Ghoshal and leading names from Ollywood.
Anticipating huge crowds, the Police have made elaborate arrangements with enhanced and robust security measures. At least 20 control rooms have been set up, while the entire area is under surveillance of CCTV cameras and drones.
Sufficient police personnel have been deployed for crowd control, with special teams overseeing key entry and exit points. Rigorous traffic and parking plans are also being enforced to prevent congestion.
Furthermore, the Fire Services Department has stationed fire tenders at several spots and remains on high alert for immediate emergency response.
Odisha Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati tweeted, "Heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all on the occasion of the world-famous Bali Yatra, which highlights Odisha's glorious maritime trade tradition and cultural heritage. This tradition is the lifeblood of Odisha's pride and culture."
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