Baliyatra festival is an important event in the calendar of Odisha which is held in the bank of Mahanadi river in the auspicious month of Kartik. Baliyatra starts on the full moon day in November-December which is celebrated as Karthik Poornima all over Odisha. This year it started on 25th November 2015 and concluded on 2nd December 2015 (8 days).
Baliyatra festival is celebrated to commemorate the glorious past of Odia Sadhabs' (Odia Meriners) commercial voyage that were organized to the islands of Bali, Sumatra, Java and Borneo for the purpose of trade and cultural expansion. Bali Jatra literally means, "Journey to Bali".
Lakhs of visitors from across Odisha and other states visit the festival. The visitors enjoy from large number of food stalls, joyrides, boating, cultural programmes, and also from wide variety of shopping stalls that include Handicrafts (Wooden, bamboo, metal, terracotta, appliqué works etc), Handloom Sarees, Creative works from SHGs etc etc.
Here are few photos from Historic Baliyatra festival at Cuttack.
Baliyatra Gates:
Sand Scluptures at Baliyatra:
Joy Rides at Baliyatra:
Baliyatra festival is celebrated to commemorate the glorious past of Odia Sadhabs' (Odia Meriners) commercial voyage that were organized to the islands of Bali, Sumatra, Java and Borneo for the purpose of trade and cultural expansion. Bali Jatra literally means, "Journey to Bali".
Lakhs of visitors from across Odisha and other states visit the festival. The visitors enjoy from large number of food stalls, joyrides, boating, cultural programmes, and also from wide variety of shopping stalls that include Handicrafts (Wooden, bamboo, metal, terracotta, appliqué works etc), Handloom Sarees, Creative works from SHGs etc etc.
Baliyatra Gates:
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| Baliyatra Gate 2008 |
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| Baliyatra Gate 2009 |
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| Baliyatra Gate 2012 |
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| Baliyatra Sand Art on Save Girl Child |
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| Baliyatra Sand Art |
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| Sand Art of Boita Bandana at Baliyatra |
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| Sand Sclupture at Baliyatra |
Joy Rides at Baliyatra:
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| Joyride at Baliyatra |
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| Joyride at Baliyatra |
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| Totatora at Baliyatra |
Crowd at Baliyatra:
Handicraft Stalls at Baliyatra:
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| Huge Crowd at Baliyatra |
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| Chandua(Applique work) at Baliyatra |
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| Applique work stall at Baliyatra |
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| Beautiful Cane furniture at Baliyatra |
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| A bamboo products vendor readying her stall at Baliytra ground in Cuttack |
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| Baliyatra Brass works |
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| Baliyatra Enbabling the Challenged |
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| Handicrafts at Baliyatra |
Cultural Programs at Baliyatra:
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| Cultural Program at Baliyatra |
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| Odissi Dance Program at Baliyatra |
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| Odissi Dance Program at Baliyatra |
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| Odissi Dance Program at Cuttack Baliyatra |
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| Odissi Dance Program by Soor Mandir Group |
