Bhubaneswar, Nov 4: Cuttack’s historic Bali Yatra will be organised as a plastic-free event this year, with a special focus on promoting Odisha’s handloom and handicraft products. The Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) will set up 500 stalls at prominent locations across the fairground.

The preparations for Bali Yatra and the State Book Festival were reviewed at a meeting chaired by Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

Bali Yatra will be held from November 24 to December 1, with the state government proposing an allocation of Rs 10 crore for the event. Two stages will host cultural programmes, while a delegation from Bali, Indonesia, is expected to attend.

The 'Cuttack-in-Cuttack' pavilion will highlight the cultural similarities between Bali and ancient Kalinga, including language, food, clothing and traditional palm-leaf manuscripts. A digital information wall will also be installed.

The State Book Festival, scheduled from December 4 to 14 in Bhubaneswar, will feature special pavilions based on the life of Kapilendra Deva, 'Vande Mataram' and 'Gyan Bharatam'. Children's literature programmes, 'Meet the Author' sessions, quiz competitions and open-mic events will also be organised.

The meeting also reviewed several ongoing cultural infrastructure projects, including Kalamandala, the Utkal University of Culture auditorium, Kala Vikash Kendra, Bakul Bana and the renovation of Bhanja Kala Mandap. Plans for a modern museum in Bhubaneswar, a Jagannath Interpretation Centre and Museum in Puri, and a regional campus of the National School of Drama were also discussed.

The minister directed officials to expedite all projects and ensure their completion within the stipulated timelines.

Culture Department Secretary Dr Vijay Ketan Upadhyay, Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, and senior officials of IDCO, OBCC and the Culture Department attended the meeting.