Cuttack: While Thunka Puri continues to be a favourite among visitors to Bali Jatra at Gadagadia Ghat on the banks of the Mahanadi in Odisha’s Cuttack, smoke biscuits are a new attraction at this year’s fair.
According to sources, liquid nitrogen is stored in a container and later poured inside a glass. “We use liquid nitrogen along with wafers inside the paper glass and serve it to the visitors. It is in demand, especially among children, and is sold for Rs 50,” a shop owner told a local channel.
Another shop owner hailing from Vishakhapatnam said “This is a wafer biscuit in which we use liquid nitrogen to create the smoke.” He added that this smoke biscuits are receiving a huge response from the visitors in Bali Jatra.
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A special pavilion called ‘Cuttack in Cuttack’ with replicas of Dhabaleswar temple, a baptist church, gurudwara and qadam-e-rasool has been set up at the fair, showcasing the religious harmony that exists in the city. Welcome gates replicating Barabati Fort have been erected to greet visitors to the 60 feet wide and 33 feet high pavilion constructed by eminent artisan Gajendra Prasad Sahu using bamboo, wood, fibre and thermocol.
International sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik has also created a huge ‘boita’ (boat) and decorated it with 25,500 lamps inside the pavilion.
A replica of Orissa High Court Gate gate and a hockey enclosure have also been set up at Bali Jatra. Orissa High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar inaugurated the replica of the High Court gate on Wednesday and the state Sports Minister T K Behera the hockey enclosure.
The hockey enclosure has been set up by the Sports Department and Hockey India and was inaugurated in the presence of players and fans of the game. It showcases the growth of Odisha as a global hub of hockey. The enclosure has visual memoirs and other hockey archives. Other attractions include a fan zone, a photo booth, and an opportunity to pose with the World Cup trophy replica.
