People across Odisha celebrate Kartika Purnima; know significance of the festival

The full-moon day of the holy Odia month of Kartika, popularly known as 'Kartika Purnima', is celebrated with religious fervour across Odisha on Friday.

Reminiscing Odisha’s rich maritime history, people from different walks of life floated miniature boats in ponds, rivers and other water bodies and burst firecrackers to celebrate the popular and traditional ‘Boita Bandana’ ritual.

A large number of people thronged the banks of Bindusagar tank in Bhubaneswar and floated miniature boats even before the day broke. Subsequently, they visited Lingaraj Temple to worship Lord Shiva.

“We celebrate Kartika Purnima by sailing miniature boats every year to remember the rich maritime history of Odisha,” said a woman.

Similarly, hundreds of men and women also floated their boats at Gadagadia Ghat in Cuttack to celebrate the holy festival by following traditional rituals.

“It is an age-old tradition. We wake up early in the morning on Kartika Purnima nd come here in groups to sail miniature boats to celebrate the festival and commemorate our rich history,” said a local resident.

A large number of devotees visited Srimandir in Puri to witness the ‘Rajadhiraja Besha’ of the holy Trinity. They also celebrated ‘Kartika Purnima’ by sailing miniature boats in ‘Mahodadhi’.

“We are so much fortunate and blessed to celebrate ‘Kartika Purnima’ in Puri. We floated miniature boats in Mahodadhi by following all the rituals,” said a devotee of Lord Jagannath.

‘Kartika Purnima’ celebrations and ‘Boita Bandana’ utsabas were also held in Paradip, Gopalpur, Rourkela and other parts of the State.

Significance of Kartika Purnima

The Kartika month is considered as one of the holiest months among the Hindus. People follow a strictly vegetarian diet during this month and follow certain spiritual disciplines.

The most important period during this month is the five-day observation known as ‘Punchuka’, which culminates with ‘Kartika Purnima’.

Odisha has a rich maritime history. During ancient times, Odia sea traders popularly known as ‘Sadhabas’ used to start their sea voyages on the occasion of holy ‘Kartika Purnima’ to foreign shores like Bali, Sumatra and Java.

To commemorate the sea voyages of Odia Sadhabas, Bali Yatra is organised in Cuttack every year. The popular festival will be inaugurated on the banks of Mahanadi river this evening.