India, Feb. 6 -- The Central government on Thursday accorded 'National Fair' tag to Odisha's famous Bali Jatra (traditional trade fair), which is organised every year in Cuttack City.

This information was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Bali Jatra is a festival that commemorates the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. The festival attracts millions 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, the people of Odisha gather in large numbers in colo...