Devotees celebrate Kartik Poornima boat festival in Bhubaneswar
November 21st, 2010 - 10:07 pm ICT by ANIBy Sarada Lahangir
Bhubaneswar, Nov. 21 (ANI): Hundreds of devotees celebrated the Boita Bandana ceremony (boat worshipping ceremony) here on Sunday.
The ceremony is celebrated on the occasion of the Kartik Poornima.
People gathered near the holy Vindusagar pond and floated miniature boats in the water with burning ‘diyas’ placed in them to symbolize voyages undertaken by their ancestors.
The day signifies an age-old tradition that is observed in the memory of those sailors who left for distant lands from Orissa.
“This festival is celebrated as a mark of remembrance to those ancestors of ours who bravely sailed to far off lands. At that time also, women used to pray for their safe return, and that tradition has continued,” said Rashmirekha Sahu, a devotee.
Devotees believes that it was on this day the ancient traders embarked from Orissa on arduous sea voyages to places such as Bali, Java and Sumatra Islands in Southeast Asia.
The sea traders of Orissa had established colonies in these islands for business and commerce.
“We commemorate this occasion in accordance with our traditional rituals to pay respect to our ancestors who had sailed to Java and Sumatra to establish trade and business,” said Nitai Palit, a devotee. (ANI)
- Orissa remembers its glorious maritime past - Nov 02, 2009
- Millions celebrate Orissa's maritime tradition - Nov 13, 2008
- Devotees celebrate Lord Krishna's love for Radha in Tripura - Nov 22, 2010
- Nation celebrates birth anniversary of Guru Nanak - Nov 24, 2007
- Orissa tribals shun animal sacrifice to please Goddess Kali - Oct 22, 2009
- Dutch girl youngest to sail around-the-globe solo - Jan 22, 2012
- Dilip Donde is first Indian to sail solo around the world - May 22, 2010
- Ancient tools show man sailed the seas 130,000 years ago - Jan 05, 2011
- Hundreds missing as migrants' boat sinks off Indonesia - Dec 18, 2011
- Russian yacht goes missing in Antarctic - Apr 07, 2012
- Celebrating 25 years of India's first globe sailing expedition (With images) - Jan 10, 2012
- Papaya shaped Lord Ganesha attracts Bhubaneswar devotees - Sep 05, 2010
- Thousands of devotees take part in bathing festival of deities at Puri's Jagannath temple - Jun 26, 2010
- Heigru Hidongba festival celebrated in Manipur - Sep 16, 2009
- Boat parade kicks off Asian Games opening night - Nov 12, 2010
Tags: ancestors, bali, bhubaneswar, boat festival, boats, boita, business and commerce, colonies, devotees, distant lands, diyas, orissa, remembrance, safe return, sailors, sea voyages, southeast asia, sumatra islands, tradition, traditional rituals