Cuttack: A proud moment for the state—Cuttack’s historic Bali Yatra has received national status. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, informed the Rajya Sabha about this through a written response. There had been several demands in the past to grant national recognition to Bali Yatra. Recently, BJD MP Debashish Samantaray raised the demand in the Rajya Sabha, urging that Bali Yatra be recognized as a national festival. Finally, Bali Yatra has achieved national recognition.
About Cuttack’s Bali Yatra:
Bali Yatra is known as Asia’s largest open-air trade fair, symbolizing Odisha’s ancient maritime trade heritage and its historical links with Southeast Asian countries. This historic festival is held annually on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Cuttack, starting from Kartik Purnima and continuing for a week. Considering its growing popularity in recent years, the government has extended the festival from 7 to 8 days.
Demand Raised in Rajya Sabha by BJD MP:
Last Tuesday, BJD MP Debashish Samantaray raised the demand in the Rajya Sabha for national festival status for Cuttack’s historic Bali Yatra. He urged the central government to recognize it officially, stating, “Bali Yatra has attained the stature of a national festival. Every year, people from different parts of the country participate, making it a grand celebration.”
Request for National Festival Status by Naveen Patnaik:
Samantaray further highlighted that thousands of miniature boats (boitas) float on the Mahanadi River as a symbolic tribute to Odisha’s 2,000-year-old maritime glory. This fair has expanded significantly over the years and is often referred to as the largest fair in Asia. Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had already declared it a state festival and had also requested the central government to grant it national festival status.
Bali Yatra Mentioned by PM Modi in Indonesia:
Interestingly, the significance of Bali Yatra was not limited to the state. During a visit to Indonesia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Bali Yatra in his address. He spoke about how Odisha’s maritime heritage connected India with regions like Bali, Sumatra, Java, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia for thousands of years through sea trade.