In Baragarh town a weekly haat is held on every Friday since long. To coincide this being a major handloom area, one cloth market is also held on the same Friday. From the history and enquiry it is learnt that the same market is functioning since last 100 years. It was functioning in Baragarh town up to 2002. Due to some complaints of theft and harassment by some mischief as well as due to shortage of space, the same has been shifted to Behera Market Yard of R.M.C. Baragarh near Balijori village, around, 12 K.M.s away fro the town. From that day it is known as “Balijori Hat”.

The market on each Friday starts functioning at 4 A.M. and continues up to 1 P.M. It is estimated that the business turnover in peak season per hat is around Rs1.25 to 1.50 crores. The weavers, master weavers and Traders as well as yam, dyes chemicals, equipment suppliers use to come to the hat for providing a common platform of trading of handloom related items. Besides, western districts of Orissa, the businessmen and weavers from other costal district of Orissa, near by area of Chhatisgarh, and M.P. also come to the hat.

It is unique of its kind as in no where such type of market seems in existence. Here the weavers sell his product of one week/two week, so in number it is very less like 4pcs/6pcs/8pcs to 10-20pcs also. In festive season the weavers/traders earn good margin where as in off-season the case is just opposite and the weavers usually sell the products relatively at a cheaper rate to meet their livelihood.

The major strength of the market is that it is common platforms where all the varieties of fabrics produced in western parts of Orissa, M.P.; Chhatisgarh etc. are available which help the Traders/Shopkeeper for a better and easy purchase. The market has also some drawbacks as

i) it some times supports under sale due to demand supply ratio.

 ii) Mostly medium quality fabrics come for sale and it therefore discourage skill up gradation and has become a major asset particularly to the nontraditional and semiskilled weavers of the district.
The market can be more effective, provided some inputs are provided for its advertisement, like bulk purchasers from big cities may be attracted, proper security is provided etc.