Bollywood nights & other attractions at Cuttack Bali Jatra Utsav beginning tomorrow

Cuttack: Mega fair Bali Jatra at Gadagadia Ghat on the banks of Mahanadi near Barabati Fort in Odisha’s Cuttack is a celebration of cultural diversity in addition to being a trading event seeped in history and rituals.

Bali Jatra Utsav, which is all set to start from November 27, will witness folk dances, traditional music performances, and other cultural events, adding a festive and entertaining element to the celebration, on Ganakabi Baishnab Pani Mancha, Akshaya Mohanty Mancha, and Patha-Utsav.

Ganakabi Baishnab Pani Mancha will also host Bollywood nights with Sachin-Jigar, and the Dragon Dance Group on December 2 and with noted music director Anu Malik on December 3. The 8-day event will also have performances by singers Abhijeet Majumdar and T Souri, comedian Papu Pom Pom, actresses Shibani Sangeeta and Supriya Nayak.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) in association with Katak Artist Organisation (KAO) will also organise a national-level art festival, where artists from Odisha, Delhi, Bengaluru, Assam, Uttar Pradesh will participate and showcase their creativity through canvas paintings.

According to sources, a 35-ft high and 100-ft wide sand sculpture of a boat is also being created by noted artist Sudam Pradhan using over 300 tonnes of sand at the festival ground.

A Sea Tunnel Aquarium with 360 degree views of exotic marine life and an art exhibition in ‘Cuttack-In-Cuttack’ pavilion for entertainment of the revellers are some other special attractions at the fair, which will continue till December 4.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) is also spending Rs 1.81 crore on a digital exhibition in an air-conditioned hangar sprawling over 20,000 sq feet and another Rs 27,73,000 on green fireworks of 20 minutes duration twice during the weekends. Two welcome arches are being erected at a cost of Rs 32 lakh on NH 16 and near Netaji Subhas Bose Setu and R 4 lakh on roadside beautification. A laser show is also being planned at the fair ground. Around 1,900 stalls of various products ranging from handicraft to household goods will be set up this year, sources said.