Odisha proposes Rs 10 crore outlay for plastic-free Bali Yatra
The state government will establish 500 ORMAS stalls to showcase regional handlooms and traditional handicrafts during the festival in Cuttack.
The Odisha government has proposed a Rs 10 crore outlay for the upcoming Bali Yatra in Cuttack, which is scheduled to run from November 24 to December 1, according to Kalinga TV.
A new policy directive requires the festival grounds to operate entirely without plastic, focusing on sustainable alternatives and indigenous craftsmanship.
Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj led a high-level review session to finalise the operational blueprint, where the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) will set up 500 stalls.
The festival will feature a ‘Cuttack-in-Cuttack’ pavilion to illustrate civilizational links between Kalinga and Bali through displays on linguistics, culinary traditions, apparel, and palm-leaf manuscripts.
Minister Suraj instructed executing agencies to accelerate work on various cultural installations to ensure they meet deadlines, including upgrades at Bhanja Kala Mandap and the Utkal University of Culture auditorium.
Following the fair, the State Book Festival will be held in Bhubaneswar from December 4 to December 14.