No Dedicated Dahi Bara Market at Kataka Bali Jatra This Year
Visitors to the upcoming Bali Jatra in Cuttack may miss a dedicated Dahi Bara market this year, as local vendors have reportedly shown little interest in operating from a common designated zone.
Last year, the Bali Jatra administration had introduced a special Dahi Bara Haat to showcase Cuttack’s iconic street food, Dahi Bara Aloo Dum.
The initiative was aimed at providing visitors with a centralised location where they could enjoy the city’s most popular delicacy.
However, the plan is unlikely to be repeated this year.
According to representatives of the Dahi Bara vendors’ association, many vendors are reluctant to participate in a common marketplace after experiencing poor business performance under the previous arrangement.
To encourage participation, the administration has reportedly reserved around 24,500 square feet of space and offered it free of cost to Dahi Bara vendors.
Officials stated that interested vendors could apply for stalls in the designated area.
Despite the offer, authorities acknowledged that participation must remain voluntary and that vendors cannot be compelled to shift to a common market zone.
As a result, the proposal for a separate Dahi Bara market at Bali Jatra is unlikely to materialise.
The development comes as a disappointment for many food enthusiasts who were hoping for a dedicated venue celebrating one of Cuttack’s most beloved culinary traditions.
Vendors are now expected to operate independently across the fairgrounds instead of from a centralised Dahi Bara hub.
