Cuttack/ Bhubaneswar, Nov. 13 -- After granting state-level festival status, Odisha government has now urged Centre to accord 'National Maritime Heritage Festival' tag to Bali Yatra of Cuttack.
In a letter to Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Prahalad Singh Patel, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday stated that, "Bali Yatra is an integral part of the cultural ethos and is embedded in the collective consciousness of Odia people."
Bali Yatra, also known as Boitabandana, is an ancient festival held in Cuttack to commemorate the glorious tradition of seafaring activities of Odia mariners ( Sadhavas). It marks the days when ancient Sadhavas or the sailors would set sail to distant islands of Bali, as well as Java, Sumatra an...