Bhubaneswar, Nov 25: Kartika Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika was celebrated across Odisha on Wednesday.
Just at daybreak, men, women and children set afloat toy boats with lamps, betel leaves, crackers fruits and coins in nearest water bodies.
People in large numbers throng to Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers in Cuttack to float toy boats. Similarly, Bindu Sagar in Bhubaneswar also saw a large number of devotees who floated small boats to celebrate the occasion with religious fervour and enthusiasm.
People of all ages rushed to the water bodies to sail miniature boats in memory of the glorious past.
Early in the morning a large number of people also gathered at Puri sea to celebrate the holiest day of Hindu calendar. Thousands of devotees throng to Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri to witness the ‘Sunabesa’ of the Lord Jagannath and his siblings.
Besides, ‘Boita Bondana’ or Boat Festival is also being celebrated on Kartika Purnima to commemorate the maritime glory of the people of Odisha, which was known as Kalinga in ancient times.
Some also believe the tradition is meant to offer prayers to the ancestors.
