Odisha date with Bali, Indonesia

Hand made traditional floating boats @piyushrout

In Hindu religion, the month of ‘Kartika’ is considered to be the most sacred. During this month, most Hindus in Odisha refrain from eating fish, meat or egg. Some don’t eat even onion and ginger. The next fortnight of the month is spent propitiating their ancestors.

Every evening, a covered but perforated earthen pot carrying an earthen lamp inside is hoisted on a pole to help guide the ancestral spirits to descend on their respective villages and homes. On Deepawali, the family pays tributes to its ancestors. It is believed that during this month, their souls visit the earth. The members of a family light a bunch of jute-stalks with the invocation “Oh! The ancestors come in the darkness and go in the light.” This is called “Badabadua Daka”.

The last five days of the month called `Panchuka’, are considered more sacred, the last day being the `Kartika Purnima’. The women early morning draw beautiful flower-designs around the ‘chaura’ (a small temple like structure with a ‘Tulsi’ plant overhead) with colour powders produced indigenously. Most of the Shiva temples witness huge crowds, with devotees offering prayers to Lord Shiva who is said to have killed the demon ‘Tripurasura’ on this day. Goddess Kartika is worshiped during these five days to mark the end of the festival season in Odisha.

Art work performed during Panchuka with traditional colours @Piyushrout

The culmination of Kartik Month ends with floating and worshiping miniature boats in the river known as Boita Bandana Utsav or Kalinga Bali Yatra. In the good old days, the ‘Sadhabas’ (Sea traders) from Odisha considered Kartik Purnima as very auspicious to venture on a journey to distant lands like Java, Sumatra, Bali, and Indonesia, Malaysia for trade using huge boats (‘Boita’). Now, people float tiny boats made out of cork and coloured paper or bark of the banyan tree while reminiscing the past glory. This is called “Boita Bandana”, the function is celebrated by the Odia community to remember their centuries old tradition.

Originally published at medium.com on November 5, 2014.