Bhubaneswar: November 23: People across the state of Odisha celebrated Kartika Purnima, the full-moon day of the holy month of Kartika with religious fervour. As per the tradition, people from different walks of life woke up early, bathed and visited Temples and offered prayers. Also, they congregated near water bodies to set afloat miniature boats having lamps(diya), betel leaves, Flower, Milk, Supari, Fruits and crackers to mark years’ old ‘Boita Bandana Utsav’.
Boita Bandana is a mass commemoration of the maritime glory of the people of Odisha. In ancient days, traders sailed from Kalinga(Odisha was known as Kalinga) to distance places like Bali, Sumatra, Java and others.
As earlier years, this year also, people thronged rivers and ponds to celebrate floating of paper miniature boats. In Bhubaneswar, banks of Bindusagar, ghats of Khathajodi, Mahanadi witnessed good gathering of people to set afloat boats.
Almost all the temples of Bhubaneswar were seen crowded with devotees. Also, large number of devotees visited Srimandir to witness the Rajarajeswara besha of the holy Trinity.
Meanwhile, Bali Yatra, the 10-day trade fair in the State organised to commemorate the sea voyages, will be inaugurated today evening on the banks of Mahanadi river.
