Bali Jatra Returns After Two Years

Bali Jatra Returns After Two Years

People of Odisha can now have a whale of time as Bali Jatra returns after two long years suspension due to the pandemic. Considered as one of Asia’s largest open trade fairs, it is all set to mesmerise the crowd once again. A preparatory meeting for holding Bali Jatra 2022 was jointly organised by the Cuttack district administration and Culture Department at the Smruti Sadbhavana Hall of the District Collector’s office wherein the decision to organise Bali Jatra in a grand manner this year was taken. During Kartika Purnima Day every year on the bank of the great river Mahanadi, at a place called Gadagadia Ghata, in Cuttack, people celebrate the festival known as ‘Bali Jatra’ (voyage to the island of Bali) with pride, full of splendour, fun and joviality. People in Odisha await this festival and the enormous trade fair that follows with much anticipation and expectations. My City Links talked with people across the state to know their reaction to the comeback of Bali Jatra.

Unique festival that celebrates Odisha’s ancient links to Indonesia!

Bali Jatra literally means ‘Voyage to Bali’. It is a festival that commemorates Odisha’s legacy of its rich maritime history and is celebrated throughout the state. In Cuttack, a week-long customary ritualistic carnival of commerce, culture and much celebration is observed. The State Maritime Museum, set up on the banks of the Mahanadi river over four acres of land, stands as a testimony to Odisha’s transoceanic voyages and maritime trade with distant Indonesian archipelagos.

“The festivity commences in the wee hours of the auspicious ‘Kartik Purnima’, on the first full moon night of November. Just as the winds starts getting stronger and winter slowly starts setting in, men and womenfolk congregate in large numbers on the banks of the Mahanadi singing ‘Aa ka Ma Boi, Pana Gua Thoi, Pana Gua Tora, Masaka Dharama Mora,’– a prayer to the Gods to keep the sailors safe and wish them a successful voyage. Although there are no sailors to be seen now, small boats made of paper and cork, with diyas placed inside, are left afloat in the river as a commemoration,” said Premalata Bhoi, a resident of Cuttack.

Since Bali was an important port and city, this tradition came to be known as Bali Jatra. Even today, several centuries after the maritime days are long over, Odisha celebrates Bali Jatra, in symbolic commemoration of the ancient farewell for the sailors.

Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, the ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Delhi, said in a press meet, “By celebrating Bali Jatra, we seek to revive the old connectivity and people to people contact which became the basis of emotional closeness between the people of Odisha and Bali. Today, when you visit Odisha or Bali, you can see how the cultural traits and habits of the close relationship remain as if frozen in time.”

Carnival of commerce, culture and celebration

In Cuttack, Bali Jatra is celebrated annually as a large open fair near the Barabati Fort area. It is said to be the largest fair of Odisha. There are several attractions for children, and food stalls selling Odia delicacies like dahibara aloodum, thunka puri, barafa pan, gupchup, etc. from different parts of the state, and it also provides opportunities to the local artisans and craftsmen to display their products. Bali Jatra also provides a lot of cultural programs like display of martial arts, folk dances, folk songs and other variety programmes by amateur artists. For the children, there are various attractions like magic shows, charmers displaying acrobatic tricks of their tamed animals and merry-go-rounds, etc. Every year millions of people from all over the nation come to experience it.

“There is nothing that one doesn’t enjoy at Bali Jatra. Starting from parking your car at a distance and walking miles to the ground, from the food stalls to the rides, it is an unmatched emotion!” shared Rounak Panda, a college student. 

Shubhangi Kalingani from Bhubaneswar shares her elation on the return of the mela. “The best thing about Bali Jatra for a foodie is the food items, from Cuttack’s famous dahibara aloodum to thunka puri with chenna tarkari are superb. Another attraction is the games and different types of jhulas. And what’s most exciting for kids is that they can win a lot of prizes in the games. For me the best part is the food and shopping of various household decors. Time flies so quickly. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the much-loved fair could not be organised for the last two years. But this year is going to be really fun. I feel like I will be returning to paradise again and become a kid and enjoy the food, games and other interesting stuff. It is going to be super exciting,” she said

Avinash Patnaik who is also known as Bhukadinsan on Instagram, swears by letting his foodie side completely out during Bali Jatra. “As a foodie, I can vouch how adventurous and gastronomic this time of the year is. I love shopping for daily household items as well like carpets, mortar and pestle, brooms and likewise. It is the best platform that propagates and practises the Vocal For Local propaganda for real. Moreover, since I am from Bhubaneswar, going to Cuttack for this mela is in itself a small trip that you get to enjoy with friends or with family. And anything that returns after a gap, is welcomed with much anticipation and love. Similarly this Bali Jatra is sure to take everyone down the memory lane and take them on a nostalgic ride,” said the blogger.

The District Administration in association with Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and in coordination with other lines of departments have drawn up a road map for its arrangement. Expecting more footfall, the administration has extended the area this time.

Cuttack Bali Jatra to be held after two years post COVID 19 pandemic

The week-long annual trade and commerce fair of Odisha- the historic Bali Jatra will begin on the 8th of November this year, after a gap of two years. The annual fair was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. But as the situation is now becoming normal and is under control, it will be organised this year, declared Cuttack Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani recently.

With authorities expecting a crowd of over five lakh visitors at the fair this year, different committees have been formed for the smooth conduct of it. Traffic management, parking arrangement, allotment of space to traders and organising cultural programmes featured during the discussion at the meeting. The fair will be organised in an area of 424 acres of land. Special arrangements will be made for the parking of vehicles. The meeting was chaired by Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) vice-chairperson Anil Samal and attended by Cuttack Collector Bhabani Shankar Chaini, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, Cuttack DCP Pinaki Mishra, Director of Culture Ranjan Kumar Das and other senior officials.

“Cuttack’s Bali Jatra witnesses footfall of around 5 lakh people. As the biggest trade fair of the state could not be held for the last two years due to the COVID 19 pandemic, we are expecting more footfall this year. So we have planned to extend the area. An area of around 40 acres will be kept reserved exclusively for parking,” said the Collector.

“Besides the usual stalls selling all types of household and other items, the fair will have some additional attractions like water sports in Mahanadi river. There will be two stages, one Baishnab Pani Manch for organising traditional cultural programmes and another for holding modern cultural events catering to the young crowd. In addition to it a special pavilion will be set up for holding discussion on different themes regarding the cultural heritage of Odisha,” he added.

Traders ready to embark on the trade once again

The preparation for Bali Jatra starts from August with several government departments, including roads and buildings, energy, fisheries, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation and others coordinating their work to ensure a smooth festival.

Usually, more than 2000 small and large scale traders get involved during Bali Jatra in Cuttack where business transactions of crores of rupees take place. It is to be noted that there has been a lot of revenue loss due to the halt in Bali Jatra. The owners of small businesses, cottage industries, handicrafts traders, medium scale businessmen, Mission Shakti and Self Help Groups (SHGs) have expressed their eagerness to come back to the Bali Jatra market after a gap of two years.

Saswat Prakash, a carpet trader from Jamshedpur shared his experience and expectations. “Bali Jatra is that time of the year when we make the most revenue. Owing to the huge crowd, the sale is pretty enormous and makes up for the entire year. The two years destroyed by the pandemic have put a huge dent on our finances. We are hoping for a bigger outcome this year. 

Prahlad, a seasonal seller of sukhua (salted dried fish) who hails from Puri has a similar story to narrate. “Every year during the Bali Jatra, my sons and I come to the venue and we are happy with the outcome. The pandemic and cyclones have upended our business a lot. So this year, the excitement and expectation are very high,” he said.

People are excited to ramble the mela once again

Swagatika Acharya, a resident of Cuttack said, “I love hopping the stalls of art and crafts, traditional jewelries, handlooms from different states and regions as you get it at one place. And not to forget the rides. They make me feel like a kid again. Starting from Octopus to Ramdoli, each ride is full of fun. Besides, it intensifies the most important aspect of Cuttack which is its brotherhood- where people of all religions live and sustain themselves in harmony. Similarly, during Bali Jatra, people from the entire state/country belonging to different religions come together to sell, buy goods and enjoy and celebrate the 1000 years old trade fair together.”

Arpita Nanda who is currently working in Bengaluru expresses her disappointment on not being able to be a part of the celebration this year after a gap of 2 years. “I remember my college days when my friends and I used to go to the mela in huge numbers and enjoy everything to the fullest. In 2019, I remember falling sick due to food poisoning after gulping down so much food there, but still that urge is there. I am not sure whether I’ll be able to visit or not but I am super excited for it.”

Sahadev Sahoo, a resident of Bhubaneswar too shares his excitement for the fair. “Due to the pandemic, it is happening after 2 years. But the same amount of enthusiasm to witness the historic Bali Jatra is there. Nowadays we are more centred with social media, lots of programs are going online. So, we are too far from the emotions, attachments, friendships and real significance in our life. A person should not miss travelling to this kind of carnival, where you can get to see the actual and different aspects of the trade world. My weakness is tasting different states’ authentic food and I love to capture photos and short videos of different happenings so I am waiting to visit Bali Jatra this year,” he said.

International recognition for Bali Jatra

Notably, the Odisha government recognised Cuttack’s Bali Jatra as a state-level festival in 2019, under which, Housing and Urban Development and Culture departments will provide necessary financial assistance for organising the historic fair.

Railways and Information Technology (IT) minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made a special mention of Odisha’s Bali Jatra at the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ meet in Indonesia’s Bali. Addressing the meeting, Vaishnaw said, “It is good to meet in person. Especially because this meeting is in Bali. On the east coast of India, there is the culturally rich state of Odisha. In Odisha, millions of people celebrate Bali Jatra every year. Bali Jatra is a festival dedicated to the centuries old maritime trade links between India and Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, demands have grown to accord UNESCO intangible cultural heritage to Odisha’s Bali Jatra, also known as Boita Bandana, that has been celebrating the glorious maritime history of Odisha for ages.

Last year, UNESCO added Durga Puja and the world-famous Kumbh Mela, on the intangible cultural heritage representative list. So, it’s high time Bali Jatra, which celebrates the enterprising spirit of ancient India, is recognised at the international-level.

Bhabani Shankar Chayani, said, “The status of Bali Jatra is going to national and international level. This is indeed a moment of pride for Odisha. We are leaving no stones unturned to arrange international level arrangements and take Bali Jatra to another level.”