Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday advised the authorities to organise the annual Bali Jatra festival on the Lower Ground in Cuttack city. The HC said the Upper Ground near the Barabati fort can be used for other purposes and not for the festival.
The High Court made this observation while hearing a petition pertaining to the civic issues of the millennium city.
The Court asked the Cuttack Collector to discuss the Bali Jatra issue with the government departments concerned and take the necessary steps. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 7.
Bali Jatra, considered the biggest trade fair in Odisha, is organised at the Upar Padia (upper ground) and Tala Padia (lower ground), on the banks of Mahanadi river in Cuttack.
The historic festival, scheduled to kick off on November 15, will continue for eight days till November 22.
Bali Jatra usually begins on the occasion of Kartika Purnima and continues for around a week. The annual fair is organised on the banks of Mahanadi to celebrate the glorious maritime history of Odisha.
Traders from across the country, corporate houses and government agencies usually open their stalls at the fair.
Thousands of people from across the state and outside visit the fair to buy household goods, decorative pieces and wooden items among other things.
Hundreds of food stalls also come up at the fair to serve varieties of cuisines to the people. The state government has also accorded the state festival tag to Bali Jatra.
Also Read: Bali Jatra In Odisha’s Cuttack To Take Off From Nov 15