By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The Kuakhai riverbank of Ekamra constituency has been bustling since the inauguration of the Ekamra Bali Yatra festival. As the festival is in its second year, the excitement among the people is gradually increasing. Come and join the silent witness of the history of modern commerce and the famous public festival and trade fair ‘Bali Yatra’ and revive the pages of our history. The main objective of the Ekamra Kshetra Bali Yatra festival. Today, in the cold evening, popular singer Antara Chakravarthy and Odia film actor Pappu Pampam performed. Various cultural programs are enchanting the people who are enjoying various foods.
Today, the president of the Bali Yatra Committee and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh inaugurated the festival on the 7th evening. The event was attended by the committee’s editor Kaviraj Swain, advisor and Bhubaneswar block president Nirupama Sahu, senior BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, former MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, BJP Bhubaneswar district president Niranjan Mishra, corporator Madhusmita Pradhan, social worker Pratap Jena, Prakash Singh, mandal president Surya Kant Sahu, BJP leaders Krishna Nayak, Ran Pratap Patra, Surendra Pradhan, Prashan Singh, Vinta Shekhar Subuddhi, Surendra Jena, Rashmiranjan Mohapatra, Vijay Kumar Sahu as the chief guests. MLA Babu Singh said that the tradition of Boit Vandana is an image of ancient Utkal culture.
The whole world was illuminated by us. Since ancient times, our Sadhavapuas had successfully established trade relations with countries like Java, Bali, Sumatra, Borneo and Burma through historic and adventurous sea voyages and had created a unique identity in the world court with the courage and bravery of the Odia people. The main goal of this unique area Baliyatra festival is to protect Odia identity. The Boit Bandan festival is a silent witness to the ancient economic and glorious history of Odisha.
The stories of the Sadhavapuas of Odisha have become an inspiration for the youth. The Sadhavapuas are remembered by lighting lamps in a boat made of banana leaves, setting sail in a river or pond. The Odia Sadhavapuas of ancient Utkal used to go to distant islands like Bali, Java, Borneo and do business during this time. They were spreading education, initiation, culture, tradition, craftsmanship, scientific systems everywhere. As a result, the whole world was illuminated by us, said Shri Singh. For the second time, the Ekamra Baliyatra Mahotsav-2025 has been organized for the elders and youth of the Ekamra constituency, including Bankual, Keshura, Koradkanta, Durgapur Patna and Basuagahar.
