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Odisha Festivals & Events

Miniature boats, Maritime memories! Boita Bandana brings alive Odisha’s ancient seafaring heritage on Kartik Purnima

Festive fervour fills the air across Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima. Devotees took part in the age-old Boita Bandana ritual, a symbolic tribute to the state’s glorious maritime past.

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Subhaswapna Roul
Kartik Purnima

Kartik Purnima Photograph: (OTV)

Festive fervour fills the air across Odisha on the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima. Devotees took part in the age-old Boita Bandana ritual, a symbolic tribute to the state’s glorious maritime past. 

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From the early hours, devotees gathered at rivers, ponds, and water bodies to set afloat miniature boats made of banana bark, adorned with lamps, incense, betel leaves, and areca nuts.

The chants of “Aa Ka Ma Bai, Paan Gua Thoi, Paan Gua Tora, Maasa Kara Dharma Mora…” resonated across the state, filling the air with devotion. 

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Major sites such as Puri beach, Chandrabhaga coast, Bhubaneswar’s Bindusagar tank, and Cuttack’s Gadagadia ghat witnessed massive gatherings, as thousands offered prayers and performed the traditional ritual after taking a holy dip.

Remembering Odisha’s Ancient Maritime Glory

According to legend, on this day, Odia sailors known as Sadhabas once embarked on long voyages across the sea to Java, Sumatra, and Bali for trade. Their wives, known as Sadhabanis, would bid them farewell with prayers for safety and prosperity. 
Floating boats during Kartik Purnima is thus seen as a gesture of remembrance and reverence for Odisha’s ancient maritime glory.

The day also marks the conclusion of the holy Kartik month, regarded as the most sacred period in the Odia calendar. Believers hold that performing the Boita Bandana ritual brings good fortune, peace, and spiritual merit. 

With devotion, and cultural pride, the people of Odisha celebrated the festival with grandeur and unity.

Wishes Pour In

"Heartfelt greetings and congratulations on the sacred Kartika Purnima and Boita Bandana festival, which reflect Odisha's unique art, commerce, and culture," tweeted Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati.

BJP National Vice-President and Kendrapara MP, Baijayant Panda extended best wishes to all on the auspicious occasion of sacred Kartik Purnima and the Boita Bandana festival. 

"...Today, on this holy day, is a symbol of our Odisha's great culture, glorious heritage, and maritime tradition. May the grace of Lord Sri Jagannath bring prosperity to all," tweeted Panda.

Similarly Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted, "Heartfelt congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the sacred 'Kartika Purnima and Boita Bandana'."

Odisha boita-bandan kartik-purnima
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