The historic Bali Jatra in Cuttack will be held from November 24 to December 1, with the festival scheduled to continue for eight days this year.
A preliminary preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Cuttack District Collector, where detailed discussions were held on arrangements for the upcoming festival. The district administration has proposed to the state government that the fair be organised across both the upper and lower Bali Jatra grounds this year.
With around three months remaining for the festival, officials discussed several key issues, including stall booking, ground design, disaster management, crowd control and traffic arrangements.
The administration also plans to make the stall allotment and booking process more organised this year. Traffic management will receive special attention to prevent congestion and ensure smooth movement of visitors during the festival.
The proposal to use both the upper and lower grounds comes amid last year’s controversy over not holding Bali Jatra on the upper ground. The district administration has said it will coordinate with various departments to make this year’s festival more organised, attractive and visitor-friendly.
The festival is also expected to feature performances by popular Bollywood and Ollywood artists, similar to previous years. The detailed list of performers is expected to be finalised later.
Safety arrangements will also be given special priority. Following last year’s incident involving a stalled amusement ride, the administration plans to constitute a special technical team to inspect all rides before and during the festival.
Officials said the technical inspection will be aimed at preventing any recurrence of such incidents and ensuring the safety of visitors.
The administration is expected to intensify preparations in the coming weeks so that the eight-day historic festival can be conducted smoothly and safely.