Cuttack: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate Bali Jatra, one of the largest open trade fairs in Asia, at Gadagadia Ghat of the Mahanadi in Odisha’s Cuttack city at 5.30 pm on Friday.
For the first time, ambassadors, high commissioners and diplomats from 15 ASEAN, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and pacific countries are also be attending the event.
According to sources, The foreign diplomats will be taken on a boat ride to the fair grounds. The journey in four traditionally decorated boats named after Cuttack’s major rivers – Mahanadi, Kathajodi, Birupa, and Debi – will begin from Silvercity Boat Club, where Sadhabas will perform a special “aarti” on the Mahanadi riverbank, recreating Kalinga’s ancient maritime history of voyages to Southeast Asia.
“We want our international guests to experience the authentic cultural essence of Bali Jatra from the moment they arrive. The boat journey symbolises Odisha’s historic trade links with Southeast Asia,” explained sub-collector Jyoti Shankar Ray.
They will then visit the exhibition and special pavilions like Cuttack-in-Cuttack, Odia Asmita Through Odia Cinema, national-level Pallishree mela and Pitha Mahotsav before attending the inauguration.
“The presence of international diplomats at Bali Jatra showcases Odisha’s rich heritage and its cultural connection to Southeast Asia,” said Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Shinde.
The international representatives include ambassadors Ina H Krisnamurthi of Indonesia, Maj Gen Vetsop Namgyel of Bhutan, Pattarat Hongtong of Thailand and Bounmy Vanmany of Lao PDR and High commissioners Kshenuka Senawiratne of Sri Lanka, Patrick John Rata of New Zealand, Dato Muzafar Shah Bin Mustafa of Malaysia, Md Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, Alice Cheng of Singapore, Kane Amandus of Nauru, Jagnnath Sami of Fiji, and Dato Alaihuddin Mohamad Taha of Brunei. Minister counsellor WI Amarasinghe of Sri Lanka and minister (economic) of Nepal embassy Tara Nath Adhikari will also participate, according to TNIE report.
The event will also see participation of cultural troupes from six countries like Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Slovakia, Indonesia and Bhutan. “All these are being done to promote the annual maritime festival globally,” he added.
Around 2,500 stalls have been put up and the administration expects 70 to 80 lakh visitors during the fair period, which will continue till November 22.
