Cuttack, the silver city of Odisha is known for its brotherhood, silver filigree works, Mahanadi, Barabati Fort, Odisha High Court, the famous festival Dussehra, Maa Chandi Mandir and many more. But, this millennium city is also famous for Balijatra: Asia’s largest open trade fair. Every year in November, the people of Odisha join this fair in large numbers to celebrate the ancient maritime tradition. This week-long fair starts on the last day of the holy Kartika month. On this day, in the early morning, people go to the river banks or ponds to float boats made of colourful paper or banana bark. This tradition is called ‘Boita Bandana’ and celebrates the maritime heritage of Odisha.
But, all these rituals were paused for the last 2 years due to the Covid Pandemic. So after two years silver city is all set to host the biggest trade fair in a grand manner from 8th Nov 2022 – 16th Nov 2022. The fair offers a vast business opportunity to traders, artisans and self-help groups to showcase their handmade and indigenous products. Numerous stalls selling handcrafted items, food, jewellery, handlooms & textiles, electronics, household & decorative items, various forest products from tribal areas etc were the centre of attraction during this Balijatra event.
This year to make this fair special the District Administration Cuttack is putting all the efforts to promote ‘Clean & Green Balijatra’. People can move freely in the venue as the ground has been extended to set up more stalls. Also, there are multiple entry & exit options for the ease of visitors. Nearly 40 acres of land are dedicated for parking vehicles. Over 600 food stalls, 325 Govt stalls, over 400 other stalls, and Pallishree Mela in 5 acres have been set up.
Some special attractions have been made to give the fair an extravagant look. Around 400 trees have been decorated and special pindis have been installed for people to take a break and relax for a while. Special enclosure ‘Cuttack in Cuttack’, with provision of e-rickshaws, joy rides, sand art etc have been arranged too.
Keeping in view the ‘Clean & Green Balijatra’ concept, CMC has set up special stalls at the fairground where visitors can get cashback of Rs 5/- for every plastic water bottle they return. According to CMC officials, 7 committees have also been set up comprising various organizations, NGOs, SHGs and others to promote the ‘Clean & Green Balijatra’.
Amazing Sights:
A unique Guinness Book of World Records will be attempted for making paper boats. CMC has contracted with the Guinness Book of World Records in London for an attempt to make 10,000 paper boats in just 15 minutes. About 3000 college students have been trained to make paper boats. The size and weight of the paper boats have been prescribed by the record book authorities.
For the first time, a special laser light show will be held in Balijatra. The show will be organized every evening during the fair by a Delhi-based company at the Mahanadi river bed. The laser light show will display over 10 videos based on the rich history of Cuttack, visits of Mahatma Gandhi and ‘Bara Putras’ of Odisha.
Giant welcome gates have been installed at different places of Balijatra ground and tableaus to move in different parts of Twin City. To add more charm to this great fair, Cuttack is all set to host many Bollywood & Ollywood dignitaries this year like Kailash Kher, Javed Ali and Krishna Beura from Bollywood and Sheetal Patra, Kuldeep Patnaik, Tilak Chakraborty, Diptirekha Padhi, Asima Panda, Bishnu Mohan Kabi, Human Sagar, Mantu Chhuria, Sabyasachi Mishra, Archita Sahu, Pankaj Jal and Abhijit Mishra from Odia cine industry.
50 platoons of police force have been deployed, Special women’s team, 20 aid posts and 4 support centres have also been provided to foresee the Security arrangements. This year the excitement is super high among the visitors. The District Administration Cuttack and Cuttack Municipal Corporation are putting out all their efforts to make this event a grand success.
Stay informed by reading interesting blogs on Odisha at www.odiasamaj.org.
Follow the page to know more.
Cuttack, the silver city of Odisha is known for its brotherhood, silver filigree works, Mahanadi, Barabati Fort, Odisha High Court, the famous festival Dussehra, Maa Chandi Mandir and many more. But, this millennium city is also famous for Balijatra: Asia’s largest open trade fair. Every year in November, the people of Odisha join this fair in large numbers to celebrate the ancient maritime tradition. This week-long fair starts on the last day of the holy Kartika month. On this day, in the early morning, people go to the river banks or ponds to float boats made of colourful paper or banana bark. This tradition is called ‘Boita Bandana’ and celebrates the maritime heritage of Odisha.
But, all these rituals were paused for the last 2 years due to the Covid Pandemic. So after two years silver city is all set to host the biggest trade fair in a grand manner from 8th Nov 2022 – 16th Nov 2022. The fair offers a vast business opportunity to traders, artisans and self-help groups to showcase their handmade and indigenous products. Numerous stalls selling handcrafted items, food, jewellery, handlooms & textiles, electronics, household & decorative items, various forest products from tribal areas etc were the centre of attraction during this Balijatra event.
This year to make this fair special the District Administration Cuttack is putting all the efforts to promote ‘Clean & Green Balijatra’. People can move freely in the venue as the ground has been extended to set up more stalls. Also, there are multiple entry & exit options for the ease of visitors. Nearly 40 acres of land are dedicated for parking vehicles. Over 600 food stalls, 325 Govt stalls, over 400 other stalls, and Pallishree Mela in 5 acres have been set up.
Some special attractions have been made to give the fair an extravagant look. Around 400 trees have been decorated and special pindis have been installed for people to take a break and relax for a while. Special enclosure ‘Cuttack in Cuttack’, with provision of e-rickshaws, joy rides, sand art etc have been arranged too.
Keeping in view the ‘Clean & Green Balijatra’ concept, CMC has set up special stalls at the fairground where visitors can get cashback of Rs 5/- for every plastic water bottle they return. According to CMC officials, 7 committees have also been set up comprising various organizations, NGOs, SHGs and others to promote the ‘Clean & Green Balijatra’.
Amazing Sights:
A unique Guinness Book of World Records will be attempted for making paper boats. CMC has contracted with the Guinness Book of World Records in London for an attempt to make 10,000 paper boats in just 15 minutes. About 3000 college students have been trained to make paper boats. The size and weight of the paper boats have been prescribed by the record book authorities.
For the first time, a special laser light show will be held in Balijatra. The show will be organized every evening during the fair by a Delhi-based company at the Mahanadi river bed. The laser light show will display over 10 videos based on the rich history of Cuttack, visits of Mahatma Gandhi and ‘Bara Putras’ of Odisha.
Giant welcome gates have been installed at different places of Balijatra ground and tableaus to move in different parts of Twin City. To add more charm to this great fair, Cuttack is all set to host many Bollywood & Ollywood dignitaries this year like Kailash Kher, Javed Ali and Krishna Beura from Bollywood and Sheetal Patra, Kuldeep Patnaik, Tilak Chakraborty, Diptirekha Padhi, Asima Panda, Bishnu Mohan Kabi, Human Sagar, Mantu Chhuria, Sabyasachi Mishra, Archita Sahu, Pankaj Jal and Abhijit Mishra from Odia cine industry.
50 platoons of police force have been deployed, Special women’s team, 20 aid posts and 4 support centres have also been provided to foresee the Security arrangements. This year the excitement is super high among the visitors. The District Administration Cuttack and Cuttack Municipal Corporation are putting out all their efforts to make this event a grand success.
Stay informed by reading interesting blogs on Odisha at www.odiasamaj.org.
Follow the page to know more.
