By Aditya Nayak
Cuttack: The mega open fair Bali yatra, which was inaugurated on Tuesday in Cuttack, will now conclude on November 20, which was earlier scheduled to end on November 19.
The festival is organised at the bank of Mahanadi River every year in memory of our ancient mariners who sailed to the distant land of Bali, Sumatra, Java (Jawa) in Indonesia, Borneo and Sri Lanka, for the expansion of trade and culture.
The festival was inaugurated by Odisha Assembly Speaker SN Patro along with Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, Ambassador of Indonesia to India; the special invitee for the function.
Earlier on Wednesday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to the Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel urging him to accord National Maritime Heritage Festival Status to Cuttack Bali Yatra festival.
For nine days, over 1,000 stalls come up this time, showcasing art, traditional items, household craft, food items from the state and outside the state.
Also, for the first time, the festival has a maritime corner to exhibit the model of the maritime voyage of ancient sea traders, who were travelling to the different parts of South-East Asia for Trade and culture extension
