London: For the first time, Bali Jatra will be celebrated in London to promote the state’s culture and heritage on November 30. It will be celebrated under the aegis of Odisha Society of the United Kingdom (OSUK) in support with the Odisha government.
According to reports, Partha Sarathi Panda, director of OSUK, met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj recently. He discussed details of the event with the ministers. “Both have expressed their commitment to support this unique celebration. This year, we are organizing two major events in London, and Bali Yatra is one of them,” Panda told an Odia news channel.
Panda believes that this will be a major boost for the Odia community in London. The community will not just showcase Odisha’s heritage but will also promote the bilateral trade relations. Shweta Mohanty, a member of OSUK, reportedly said this event would help highlight the potential for investment in sectors like livestock and food processing.
OSUK directors, including Partha Sarathi Panda, Salil Kumar Das, Dr. Prakash Kumar Dey, Dr. Vibhuti Bhushan Patnaik, Sasmita Rajhans, Prabhat Mishra, Deepti Mohanty and Srikant Kumar Padhi and other key members of the group will organize the festival. OSUK has been working to preserve and promote Odia language, literature, culture, and tradition in London for over 40 years.