CUTTACK: The historic Balijatra is all set to go global from this year. The fair would not only have an exclusive website reaching out to worldwide audience but also be a platform for showcasing cultures of other countries through dances and cultural performances. Performers from Bangladesh, Japan and other South East Asian nations would be taking part in the seven-day trade fair-cum - cultural festival. Besides, eminent artistes of classical and folk dance, and music in the country and State would also perform. The website www.balijatracuttack.com would be launched on November 10, the day the fair will begin, and would cover all aspects of the event that is connected to the glorious heritage of maritime activities, international trade and commerce in the State. It will be informative with definitive history of the fair, fair-site layout, categories, stalls and list of participants, cultural programme details along with audio-visual content on the fair. The site would also promote tourism in and around Cuttack district by highlighting places and facilities of importance. It would have dynamic and interactive features and be constantly updated to draw visitors round the year, Sub-collector JP Das said. The administration has, meanwhile, completed carving out new space to compensate the loss of land due to the surging Mahanadi. Around 1.5 lakh sq ft has been salvaged from the erstwhile vehicle parking area which would accommodate air- conditioned Filigree Pavilion, the Gandhi Shilpa Bazaar and new stalls. The parking lot has been shifted further along the Ring Road and a new landing slope has been created for the vehicles to access the parking lot. In tune with the ban on polythene in the City, the Balijatra too will be polythene-free with the product being banned at the fair grounds. No shop or stall owner will be allowed to deliver goods in polythene bags. “Net cotton, textile and jute bags would be made available to the stall owners as well as visitors at several places in the fair, including the exclusive stall at Pallishree Mela. Visitors can buy bags of sizes as per their requirement and use them,” Das said. The fair would have over 1,300 stalls against 1,100 last year.
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