Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Bali Jatra, which was suspended for two consecutive years due to COVID restrictions, began on the bank of the Kuakhai on Tuesday.
The fourth edition of the event, which started in 2017, was inaugurated by Bhubaneswar North (Uttar) MLA Sushant Rout in the presence of Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda, Mayor Sulochana Das, MLA Anant Narayan Jena and convenor of Odisha Mo Parivar Arup Kumar Patnaik.
“Not only in Cuttack, but Bali Jatra has also begun in Bhubaneswar and will continue till November 16,” Rout said during the inauguration ceremony.
A total of 500 stalls, including over 50 open-air stalls, have been put up for exhibition, sale, and promotion of traditional artefacts. Besides swing rides and Meena Bazaar, musical evenings are an attraction at the fair.
On the first day, Odia singer Manmath Mishra performed as thousands flocked to the Kuakhai riverbed. Bollywood singer Abhijit Bhattacharya will hit the stage on the last day of the nine-day event.
“Bollywood and Ollywood singers will continue to perform till November 16,” Secretary of Bhubaneswar Bali Jatra Committee Tapan Baliarsingh told media.
Baliarsingh added that around 200 volunteers and around 60 police officers, 30 police squads, and 40 security officers have been deployed for the smooth conduct of Bali Jatra here.
