The week-long festival organised over an area of 50 acres on two grounds adjacent to Mahanadi embankment here near Gadagadia temple will continue till November 20.
Odisha's industries minister Debi Prasad Mishra inaugurated the festival in the presence of several of his cabinet colleagues, MPs, MLAs and City mayor. Nearly 1,000 stalls and over 400 vendors and artisans from the State and outside have come to the festival with wide-ranging products with a hope to make brisk business.
On the inaugural day on Monday, which coincided with Kartika Purnima, over one lakh revellers thronged both the Baliyatra grounds and were seen crowded near the amusement and joyride stalls. Many were seen relishing the famous and mouth- watering dish of the city--"dahi bara" and "thunka puri".
However, when the district administration informed the Bench that the contentious ground is merely an islet, the NGT gave green signal to the festival only on November 4.
Also Read
The festival grounds are dotted with stalls showcasing ethnic items in National Pallishree Mela, Gandhi Shilpa Bazar, ORMAS-led self-help groups and specially erected stalls for transgender and dibyangs. Government and public sector units, including public utility departments too have setup their stalls in the festival showcasing a range of their own products and schemes.
Similarly, the police have made elaborate arrangements to contain crime and maintain law and order at the festival grounds for next seven days. Fire brigade personnel equipped fire tenders and other fire fighting measures are also deployed at the festival grounds to meet any eventuality.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content