Bali Jatra
Encyclopedia
Bālijātrā
Bālijātrā (also bōita bandāṇa literally means "journey to Bali
".This festival is held in Orissa,in the city of Cuttack
at "Gadagadia ghata" of the Mahanadi river, to mark the day when ancient Sadhaba
s (Oriya mariners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali
, as well as Java
, Sumatra
, Borneo
(all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka
for trade and cultural expansion. They sailed in large vessels called Boita
s.
The festival marks its beginning at the end of the Kartik Purnima in October and November, and goes on for a period of seven days right from the full moon. This is the specific time that was considered auspicious by the Sadhabas to begin their voyage in vessels called Boita
s.The scientific cause of starting voyage on "kartika purnima" is to take profit of the wind blown this time. "Ajhala" or big fabrics were used to carry "boita" or vessels by wind.
In Cuttack, Bali Jatra is celebrated annually as a large, open, fair near the Barabati Fort
area. It is said to be the largest fair of Orissa state. There are several attractions for children, and food stalls selling Oriya delicacies(cuttacki Dahivada aludum, Thunka puri, Barafa pan, Gupchup etc.), and other vendors selling toys, curiosities, and other gifts. Every year attracts people in millions. People from all over the nation come to experience it. In Bali Yatra Children float toy boats made of colored paper, dried banana tree barks, and cork in the Mahanadi river
, ponds, and water tanks, to commemorate the voyage of their ancestors to Indonesia. These toy boats, that are usually launched after sunset with small oil lamps, lit and placed inside them, provide a very attractive sight during the festival. People sing a song "Aa ka ma bai, pan gua khai..."to remember the early maritime history of Orissa
. The song tells about four months that are important for marine merchants of Kalinga (early Orissa).
This festival is also celebrated with great fanfare in Paradeep. Bali Jatra bears testimony to the rich maritime legacy of ancient Orissa. It is also known as Boita Bandana Utsab, or the "festival of boats".
Bālijātrā (also bōita bandāṇa literally means "journey to Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
".This festival is held in Orissa,in the city of Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
at "Gadagadia ghata" of the Mahanadi river, to mark the day when ancient Sadhaba
Sadhaba
Sadhabas were ancient mariners from the Kalinga empire, which roughly corresponds to modern Orissa, India. They used ships called Boitas to travel to distant lands such as Bali, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, in Indonesia, and to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Persia, China, Greece and Africa to carry out trade...
s (Oriya mariners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, as well as Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
(all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
for trade and cultural expansion. They sailed in large vessels called Boita
Boita
Boiţa is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania, at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, 22 km south of the county capital Sibiu, in the Mărginimea Sibiului ethnographic area, on the main road between Sibiu and the southern part of Romania, the National road 7/European route 81,...
s.
The festival marks its beginning at the end of the Kartik Purnima in October and November, and goes on for a period of seven days right from the full moon. This is the specific time that was considered auspicious by the Sadhabas to begin their voyage in vessels called Boita
Boita
Boiţa is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania, at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, 22 km south of the county capital Sibiu, in the Mărginimea Sibiului ethnographic area, on the main road between Sibiu and the southern part of Romania, the National road 7/European route 81,...
s.The scientific cause of starting voyage on "kartika purnima" is to take profit of the wind blown this time. "Ajhala" or big fabrics were used to carry "boita" or vessels by wind.
In Cuttack, Bali Jatra is celebrated annually as a large, open, fair near the Barabati Fort
Barabati Fort
Barabati Fort is a 14th century fort built by the Ganga dynasty near Cuttack, Orissa. The ruins of the fort remain with its moat, gate, and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace, which evokes the memories of past days. Today it sits next to the modern Barabati Stadium, the venue of various...
area. It is said to be the largest fair of Orissa state. There are several attractions for children, and food stalls selling Oriya delicacies(cuttacki Dahivada aludum, Thunka puri, Barafa pan, Gupchup etc.), and other vendors selling toys, curiosities, and other gifts. Every year attracts people in millions. People from all over the nation come to experience it. In Bali Yatra Children float toy boats made of colored paper, dried banana tree barks, and cork in the Mahanadi river
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
, ponds, and water tanks, to commemorate the voyage of their ancestors to Indonesia. These toy boats, that are usually launched after sunset with small oil lamps, lit and placed inside them, provide a very attractive sight during the festival. People sing a song "Aa ka ma bai, pan gua khai..."to remember the early maritime history of Orissa
Maritime history of Orissa
The Maritime history of Orissa , also known as Odisha or as Kalinga in ancient times, started before 350 BC according to early sources. The people of this region of eastern India along the coast of the Bay of Bengal sailed up and down the Indian coast, and travelled to Indo China and...
. The song tells about four months that are important for marine merchants of Kalinga (early Orissa).
This festival is also celebrated with great fanfare in Paradeep. Bali Jatra bears testimony to the rich maritime legacy of ancient Orissa. It is also known as Boita Bandana Utsab, or the "festival of boats".