Baliyatra

Baliyatra is one of the biggest open-air fairs in the country which means "voyage to Bali," which was mentioned by PM Modi during the G20 Summit.

Celebrations

This annual Baliyatra commemorates the 2,000-year-old cultural and marine ties between ancient Kalinga and Southeast Asia.

Historical Significance

The festival is held annually to recognise the 2,000-year-old maritime and cultural connections between ancient Kalinga (modern-day Odisha) and Bali as well as other South and Southeast Asian countries like Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Burma (Myanmar), and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Origin of Festival

The festival, which begins on Kartik Purnima (the full moon night in the month of Kartik), has a history going back more than a thousand years.

Guinness World Records

The Baliyatra of this year, which concluded on Thursday, has been included in the Guinness World Records for carrying off an impressive origami achievement by creating beautiful paper sculptures.