Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minister has urged the union tourism and culture minister Prahalad Singh Patel to accord National Maritime Heritage Festival status to Cuttack Bali Yatra.

Patnaik, in a letter to Patel on Wednesday, has said that the Bali Yatra is an integral part of the cultural ethos of Odisha. It is deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of the Odia people. Bali Yatra is the signature festival of Cuttack, the millennium city.

Hence, Patnaik has written, ” I would suggest you to kindly consider the social cultural importance of Bali Yatra festival and accord it the status of a National Maritime Heritage Festival.” And, he added, “I am sure that would be a befitting tribute to our heritage and an inspiration for out future.”