BALIYATRA 

1. Context

2. Historical Significance

• Baliyatra, literally 'voyage to Bali', is one of the country's largest open-air fairs, which is organized every year to commemorate the 2,000- year-old maritime and cultural links between ancient Kalinga (today's Odisha) and Bali and other south and southeast Asian regions like Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
• The origins of the festival, which begins on Kartik Purnima (full moon night in the month of Kartik) can be traced back more than 1,000 years.
• The Bay of Bengal region had several ports, and sadhavas (traders) traditionally began their voyage across the sea on this auspicious day, when the winds were favorable for the boats, known as boita, to sail.
• According to historians, popular items of trade between Kalinga and Southeast Asia included pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, silk, camphor, gold, and jewelry.
• Even today, thousands of people across Odisha sail decorative miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, or thermocol to celebrate the boita bandana or the worshipping of the boats.

3. Business of Festivities

• The festival is organized by the Cuttack district administration and Cuttack Municipal Corporation in association with several other government agencies.
• Lakhs of people from Cuttack and neighboring districts throng the fair site by the Mahanadi through the nine-day festival.
• Besides the cultural and historical aspects, Baliyatra has an important commercial dimension. It is a time when people purchase everything from automobiles and electronic devices to local artisanal products at prices that are comparatively low.
• The district administration allotted more than 1,500 stalls to traders through an auction, and the fair is estimated to see business worth more than Rs.100 crore over its nine days.
• In October, a delegation of ambassadors and heads of missions in India of ASEAN countries visited Odisha to explore business opportunities.

4. Organizing Bigger after Pandemic

• Massive arrangements were made for this year's Baliyatra after the Covid-induced disruptions in 2020 and 2021.
• The festival, which is usually held in a 35-acre area, sprawled over 85 acres this year.
• People come to relish a range of foods and cultural evenings and see performances from folk dancers as well as classical artists and celebrities, even as swings, Ram Dolis, and the sounds of toy trumpets lend the fair a rustic charm.
• At a special event organized at the Barabati Stadium this year, over 2,100 students made over 22,000 paper boats at a single venue in 35 minutes, an achievement that was recognized by Guinness, and achieved the objective of getting global attention for the festival.

For Prelims & Mains