Kartika Purnima: The Day Depicting Odisha’s Maritime History

Kartika Purnima is observed on the 15th lunar day of Kartika month. According to the western calendar, Kartika month falls in the month of November and December. This festival is celebrated all over the country but in different variants.

The Kartika month is entirely dedicated to the Supreme God, Lord Vishnu. This day is also important for the ‘Shaivas’ (one who worship Lord Shiva), as on this day Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripurasura.

Kartika Purnima has great significance in the rich maritime history of Odisha. On this day, the devotees float miniature boats made out of natural materials such as banana tree leaves, stems, and straws from coconut trees. This tradition of floating boats is known as Boita Bandana in the local language.

The miniature boats are decorated with flowers, diyas, betel leaves, small pieces of fabric, and incense sticks.

In history, Odisha’s traders used to travel abroad for trade and cultural exchanges. One of the most prominent countries Odisha traders went to was Indonesia.

The world-famous Cuttack and Paradip Bali Jatra are celebrated every year as a reminiscence of Odisha’s rich maritime trade with Bali, located in Indonesia. The references of which can be found in the legendary folklore of ‘Tapoi’ which dates back to the 13-14th century C.E.

Kartika Purnima is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. The festival also marks the birth anniversary of the supreme Sikh guru, Shri Guru Nanak Dev, and is celebrated as Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurupurab by the Sikh community.