Bali Jatra in Odisha: A Magnificent Kartik Purnima Celebration

Bali Jatra: A Celebrated Cultural Festival

Bali Jatra, also known as Donga Bhosa, is a celebrated festival in Odisha and Jharkhand. Bali Jatra is a widely recognized and culturally significant festival celebrated in the Indian states of Odisha and Jharkhand. During the Kartika Purnima, typically occurring between late October and November, residents of Odisha congregate along the banks of the Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers, as well as other riverbanks, ponds, lakes, and seashores. They painstakingly craft small toy boats from banana tree barks, colored paper, and cork, serving as a symbolic tribute to the maritime legacy of their forefathers.

At the break of dawn, these miniature boats are set adrift, each one bearing traditional paan and small oil lamps. The lamps are lit to create a mesmerizing spectacle during the festival. Simultaneously, participants sing the song “Aa ka ma boi, pan gua thoi…” to commemorate Odisha’s early maritime history, recounting the significance of four specific months essential to the marine merchants of Kalinga, the former name of the region.

Paradeep, a place with a rich maritime history in ancient Odisha, also enthusiastically celebrates this festival. A 6th-century text, the Manjusrimulakalpa, mentions the Bay of Bengal as Kalingodra, underscoring Kalinga’s pivotal role in maritime trade. In classical India, the Bay of Bengal was renowned as Kalinga Sagar, emphasizing its significance in maritime activities. These age-old customs are upheld during the annual Boita Bandana festival.

During this celebration, the people of Odisha commemorate the times when their ancestors embarked on trading expeditions to other islands. During these voyages, family members and well-wishers gathered to pray for the safety and prosperity of their loved ones. They conveyed these wishes by crafting small handmade boats from banana bark, embellishing them with oil lamps and flowers, and launching them into the sea. This ritual symbolizes their collective prayers for the safe return and prosperity of those embarking on maritime journeys, preserving Odisha’s deep-rooted maritime heritage and cultural traditions, while paying homage to the seafarers who played a vital role in the region’s history.