Ministry of Culture
Bali Jatra commemorates rich maritime heritage and culture of Odisha
Posted On:
06 FEB 2025 5:53PM by PIB Delhi
Bali Jatra is a festival that commemorates the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. The festival is celebrated annually in Cuttack, Odisha, and attracts million of visitors. The term Bali Jatra literally means ‘Voyage to Bali’. Every year Kartika Purnima marks the day that the seafaring traders departed for the Indonesian islands. For this festival, people of Odisha gather in large numbers in colourful attire to celebrate their glorious maritime history. The celebration features grand fairs, elaborate rides, food and dance. Indian women perform ‘Boita Bandana’, they make boats of paper or banana leaf (sholapith) with lighted lamps inside and float them down the Mahanadi as a part of the celebrations. The Bali Jatra celebrates the ingenuity and skill of those expert sailors who made Kalinga, one of the most prosperous empires of its time.
The festival is organized by Department of Culture and Tourism, Govt. of Odisha. Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata, an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, participates in this event by way of providing cultural troupes during the Jatra for organizing cultural programmes, the details of which are as under:
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Year
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Name of the programme
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Date
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Venue
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Art form presented
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2022-23
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BaliJatra Cuttack Utsav – 2022
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8 to 16 Nov, 2022
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Cuttack
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Bihu, Nagara, Kuchipudi, Purulia Chhau, & Jhumar Dance
|
|
2023-24
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BaliJatra Cuttack Utsav – 2023
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27 Nov to 4 Dec, 2023
|
Cuttack
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Purulia Chhau, Paika, Contemporary Dance & Odissi
|
|
2024-25
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BaliJatra Cuttack Utsav – 2024
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15 to 22 Nov, 2024
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Cuttack
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Bihu, Kathak, Purulia Chhau& Ruff/ Dogri
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Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a three-day National Dhara event ‘Samudramanthan’ was organized at the Odisha Maritime Museum at Cuttack to focus on the State’s glorious seafaring history, coinciding with the inauguration of the historic Bali Jatra. The event included panel and round-table discussions on the country’s maritime history locations, traditions, ship building, navigation, trade and cultural exchange, maritime security and international law.
The Jatra facilitates cultural exchange between Odisha and other States, promoting cross-cultural understanding. The Jatra also provides a platform for traditional Odia artists, craftsmen and musicians to showcase their skills which help to revive and promote Odia Culture.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
E-mail: - pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2100365)
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