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{{Short description|Boita Bandana festival in Odisha, India}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Bali Jatra
|type = Cultural
|longtype = Cultural
|image = Balijatra cuttack.JPG
|caption = Cuttack Bali Jatra
|official_name = Bali Jatra
|nickname = ''Voyage to Bali''
|observedby = [[Odia people|Odia]]s
|date = [[Kartik Purnima]]
|begins = On [[Boita Bandana]] in the month of Kartika in [[Odia calendar]]
|ends = Various (usually in a week, or 9–10 days<ref>{{cite news |title=Cuttack Bali Yatra date extended, check latest order |url=https://odishatv.in/festivals-events/cuttack-bali-yatra-date-extended-check-latest-order-news-190276 |website=Odisha TV |last1=Sharma |first1=Vikash |date=15 November 2022}}</ref>)
|date2025 = 5 to 12 November
|frequency = Annual
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}
'''Bāli Jātrā''', ({{Langx|or|ବାଲିଯାତ୍ରା|lit=Voyage to [[Bali]]}}) {{IPA|or|bali dʒat̪ɾa|pron}}, is the major [[Boita Bandana]] festival held at Cuttack on [[Kartik Purnima]] and lasts for 7 days or more, i.e. usually until [[Prathamastami]]. It is considered to be one of Asia's largest open trade fair.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Great Indian festive culinary trail for November |url=https://www.asianage.com/life/food/111019/the-great-indian-festive-culinary-trail-for-november.html |website=[[The Asian Age]] |last1=Vanjani |first1=Drishti |date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pandemic axe on Odisha's Bali Yatra |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/pandemic-axe-on-odishas-bali-yatra/cid/1796171 |website=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |last1=Mohanty |first1=Subhashish |date=1 November 2020 }}</ref> The festival is held in [[Odisha]] (a state in eastern [[India]]), in the city of [[Cuttack]] at ''Gadagadia Ghata'' of the [[Mahanadi]] river, to mark the day when ancient [[Sadhaba]]s (Odia mariners) would set sail to distant lands of [[Bali]], as well as [[Java]] (at the time of the voyage known as "Yawadvipa"), [[Sumatra]], [[Borneo]] (all in [[Indonesia]]), and [[Sri Lanka]] (formerly Ceylon) for trade and cultural expansion. To commemorate this, the festival is celebrated every year from the day of Kartika Purnima (full moon day of the month of Kartika) to [[Prathamastami]] (eighth day of Margasira Krushna) according to the [[Odia calendar]].<ref name="Patnaik 1997 p.117 ">{{cite book | last=Patnaik | first=N.R. | title=Economic History of Orissa | publisher=Indus Publishing Company | year=1997 | isbn=978-81-7387-075-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AA9W9_4Z9gC | access-date=2019-05-30 | page=117}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=|title=Orissa Review - Volume 45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RgxDAAAAYAAJ&q=bali+jatra+festival|year=1988|publisher=Home Dept, Gov of Orissa}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Cuttack Bali Jatra: The Grand Festival Becomes Grander |publisher=OSAS |url=https://www.academia.edu/39138232 |author=Annapurna Pandey |journal=Odisha Society of the Americas Souvenir |date=2019 |access-date=13 February 2021 }}</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Baliyatra.jpg|thumb|Cuttack Bali Jatra entrance gate (2010)]]
[[File:Balijatraa.jpg|thumb|I Love Bali Jatra Stand]]
On Kartika Purnima, which comes around the end of October and November, people of Odisha gather near banks of [[Mahanadi]], [[Brahmani river]], other river banks, ponds, water tanks and sea shores to float miniature toy boats, made of colored paper, dried banana tree barks, and cork, as a symbolic gesture of their ancestors' voyage. These toy boats, usually launched early in the morning contain traditional paan and small oil lamps, which are lit and placed inside them, to provide an attractive sight during the festival. People sing a song ''Aa ka ma boi, pan gua thoi...'' to remember the early [[maritime history of Odisha]]. The song tells about four months that are important for marine merchants of [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]] (the earlier name of Odisha). This festival is also celebrated with great fanfare in [[Paradeep]]. Bali Jatra bears testimony to the rich maritime legacy of ancient Odisha. This is the specific time that was considered auspicious by the Sadhabas to begin their voyage in vessels called [[Boita]]s. The voyage began on ''Kartika Purnima'' to take advantage of the favorable wind blowing during this time. ''Ajhala'' or big fabric sails were used to harness the wind power to move the ''Boitas''.

Bali Jatra is also associated with ''Ta'apoi'' and rituals like ''Bhalukuni Osha'' or ''Khudurukuni Osha'' and ''Bada Osha''. ''Ta'apoi'' is closely associated with the Bali Jatra festival, which recalls traditional memories of young maidens waiting for the return of their sailor brothers.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Patnaik|first=Durga Prasad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90_qAeMT1bwC|title=Palm Leaf Etchings of Orissa|page=11|date=1989|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=81-7017-248-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Sahoo|first=Supriya Subhadarsini|url=https://papers.iafor.org/submission36829/|title=Tapoi Katha: A Reconstruction of History through an Odia Folk Travel Narrative|journal=European Conference on Arts & Humanities Official Conference Proceedings|date=2017|publisher=[[The International Academic Forum|IAFOR]]}}</ref>

==Cuttack==
In Cuttack, Bali Jatra is celebrated annually as a large open fair near the [[Barabati Fort]] area. There are several attractions for children like toy stalls, giant wheels, different games, maut ka kuan (literally well of death) and food stalls selling Odia delicacies (''Cuttack [[Dahibara Aludam|Dahibara Aludum]]'', ''Thunka puri'', ''[[Kulfi]]'', ''[[Panipuri|Gupchup]]'', ''Mathura Cake'', ''Banarasi Paan'' etc.) from different parts of the state, and other vendors selling toys, curiosities, and other gifts. Bali Jatra also witnesses a lot of cultural programs. Every year millions of people from all around the world visit Bali Jatra to experience it.
==Bali Jatra 2022==

Like most carnivals, Bali Jatra was also affected by the pandemic. Due to COVID-19 Bali Jatra was canceled in the year 2020 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sahoo |first=Nitesh Kumar |title=Bali Yatra 2021: NO Bali Yatra In Cuttack This Year Too |url=https://odishatv.in/news/festivals-events/no-bali-yatra-in-cuttack-this-year-too-163528 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Bali Yatra 2021: NO Bali Yatra In Cuttack This Year Too |language=en}}</ref>

However, it came back in bigger and grander avatar in 2022. Under the leadership of new CMC Mayor [[Subhash Chandra Singh|Subhash Singh]], District Collector Bhabani Shankar Chaini and Commissioner Pawan Kalyan, Balijatra was extended to 100 Acres and included additional attractions like water sports in Mahanadi river, Laser show, Cuttack-in-Cuttack (a model of most popular attractions in Cuttack) etc.

There were two stages, one Baishnab Pani Manch for organizing traditional cultural programme and another for holding modern cultural events catering to the young crowd. In addition to it a special pavilion was set up for holding discussion on different themes regarding the cultural heritage of Odisha. It also featured World’s biggest sand and diya installation art on Boita by [[Sudarsan Pattnaik]].

Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] also mentioned the grandeur of Bali Jatra in his G20 speech in Bali.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-15 |title="India is a ray of hope...": 10 points from PM Modi's address to Indian diaspora during G20 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-is-a-ray-of-hope-10-points-from-pm-modis-address-to-indian-diaspora-during-g20/articleshow/95524778.cms |access-date=2024-10-30 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

==Mention in Guinness Book of World Records==

In 2022, Bali Jatra etched its name in the Guinness Book of World Records at an event organised by the [[Cuttack Municipal Corporation]] under the leadership of Cuttack Mayor [[Subhash Chandra Singh|Subhash Singh]] and Commissioner Pawan Kalyan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sambadenglish.com/cuttack-bali-jatra-enters-guinness-book-of-world-records-as-over-22000-paper-boats-made-in-35-mins/#:~:text=Cuttack%3A%20The%20famous%20Cuttack%20Bali%20Jatra%20today%20etched,boats%20in%2035%20minutes%2C%20creating%20the%20world%20record | title=Cuttack Bali Jatra enters Guinness Book of World Records as over 22,000 paper boats made in 35 mins | date=15 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&ei=UTF-8&p=bali+yatra+Guinesse+book+of+world+record&type=E211US1485G0#id=1&vid=06c0a17d6ea0373122ad8c093b5e1b45&action=click | title=Bali yatra Guinesse book of world record - Yahoo Video Search Results }}</ref>

More than 2100 students of 22 schools made over 22,000 paper boats in 35 minutes, creating the world record.<ref>[https://sambadenglish.com/cuttack-bali-jatra-enters-guinness-book-of-world-records-as-over-22000-paper-boats-made-in-35-mins/]</ref>
[[File:Bali Jatra in Guinness Book of World Records - an initiative by CMC and Mayor Subhash Singh.jpg|thumb|alt=Guinness Book of World Records for Balijatra. Record Number of paper boats created under 35 mins. Initiative by CMC and Mayor Subhash Singh|264x264px|Guinness Book of World Record for Balijatra. Record Number of paper boats created under 35 mins. Initiative by CMC and Mayor Subhash Singh]]

==Other Bali Jatras==
Apart from the major Bali Jatra held at Cuttack, other Bali Jatras are also held across the state. Some notable ones held are Kalinga Bali Jatra held at Paradeep,<ref>{{cite news |title=Kalinga Baliyatra kicks off in Paradip |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2022/nov/08/kalinga-baliyatra-kicks-off-in-paradip-2516130.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=8 November 2022 }}</ref> Chelitola Bali Jatra at Tirtol.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baliyatra Prohibited In This Odisha District To Prevent Further Spread Of Covid |url=https://sambadenglish.com/baliyatra-prohibited-in-this-odisha-district-to-prevent-further-spread-of-covid/ |website=Sambad English |date=19 November 2020 }}</ref> The prominent Bali Jatra after Cuttack is the Kalinga Bali Jatra held at [[Paradeep]] since 1992. It was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister [[Biju Patnaik]] by flagging off the naval yacht INSV Samudra, which reached the port Benoa Harbour, [[Denpasar]] in [[Bali]] in 1993. The Kalinga Bali Jatra was an effort to recreate and revive the legacy of the historical and cultural links of the two regions which was connected by maritime trade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kalinga Bali Jatra and the Maritime Trade of Odisha |url=http://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2019/Nov/engpdf/41-45.pdf |website=Odisha Review |last=Nanda |first=R.K. |date=November 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Voyage to the Past |url=https://www.orissapost.com/voyage-to-the-past/ |website=Orissa Post |date=26 November 2018 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Greater India]], for more information about Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asia
* [[Suvarnabhumi]], a legendary eastern land of gold in classical Indian folklore located somewhere in Southeast Asia

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Odia culture}}
[[Category:Maritime history of India]]
[[Category:Festivals in Odisha]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:November observances]]
[[Category:Maritime culture]]

Bali Jatra - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:17, 22 March 2026