The AR Rehman night meant for the Hockey World Cup at Bhubaneswar scheduled at the Barabati Stadium here on November 28 is likely to play spoilsport in organising Cuttack’s historic Baliyatra at the nearby Baliyatra grounds.
The district administration and the Commissionerate police seem to be more concerned for the Barabati cultural night than for the age-old Baliyatra to be held from November 23 to December 3.
Since both the events will be hosted in close vicinity, the district administration has started neglecting the arrangements for the Baliyatra. Even as the festival is beginning from next Friday, the local tehsildar has not completed the allotment of land for erecting stalls so far. Upset over the administration’s decision to auction plots for the joy rides like giant wheel, the traders are thinking of boycotting the festival this year in protest.
“All those who have been allotted plots so far are thinking of returning the same as police and fire licences for erecting the stalls have not been issued yet,” alleged Baliyatra Byabasayee Sangha president Srikant Mohanty. It is not possible to erect the stalls with very little time now left for the festival to begin, Mohanty said on Friday, apprehending that the festival is likely to suffer for the November 28 AR Rehman night.
Apart from Rehman, south mega star Pravas of the “Bahubali” fame is also likely to participate in the November 28 cultural night, which is being organised just on the eve of India’s inaugural match against South Africa in the World Cup hockey.
Audiences of at least 35,000 to 50,000 are likely to witness the colourful programme, for which traffic and vehicular parking will be a challenging job for the local police, more because of the Baliyatra on the adjoining grounds.