Cuttack: The state govt has initiated steps to secure a place for Cuttack‘s historic Bali Yatra in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This was disclosed by language, literature, and culture minister Suryavansi Suraj during the ongoing assembly session on Friday.
Bali Yatra, celebrated along the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack, commemorates the ancient maritime trade links between Odisha (then Kalinga) and Southeast Asian countries. The fair, which attracts millions of visitors annually, symbolises the state’s rich maritime legacy and cultural vibrancy.
“A proposal has been mooted, and an expert committee has been formed to prepare the necessary documentation and authentic information highlighting the rich maritime history of Kalinga and Bali Yatra. Steps are also being taken to prepare authentic visual documentation as per the guidelines set by the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, which will be presented to Unesco,” informed Suraj.
This development comes just a week after the minister denied there being any proposal to accord national festival status to Bali Yatra, when asked by MLA Kahnai Charan Dang in the assembly.
The expert committee formed by the govt comprises scholars and cultural experts with deep knowledge of Bali Yatra’s history and significance. The committee has been tasked with collecting authentic images, historical data, and documentary evidence to present a compelling case to Unesco.
“Bali Yatra, which is a 700-year-old legacy of ancient Kalinga, is a unique maritime festival. It witnesses more than 40 lakh people in a week. So it has all the potential to get the Unesco tag,” said Lok Sabha MP Bhartruhari Mahtab.
Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous said that the state BJP govt must also ensure that Bali Yatra gets the national festival tag from the central govt, through which more funds can be allocated to it.