Kalinga Bali Yatra and the Maritime Trade of Odisha
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Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Kalinga Bali Yatra and the Maritime Trade of Odisha Prof. R.K.Nanda “Aa ka Ma Boi, Pana Gua Thoi which refers to the present day “South East Asia” Pana Gua Tora, and “Indonesia”, respectively. Some ancient Masaka Dharama Mora” scriptures also said that an important role was The present state of Odisha previously played by Brahmanas (called by the then local known as Kalinga lies on the east coast of India rulers) in spreading our Cultural Heritage in and is known for its maritime trade with the South Suvarnabhumi. These seafarers, Brahmins, East Asian countries. The recent archaeological merchants and traders, who went on sea voyages explorations at Manikapatna, Palur, Radhanagar were the actual propagators of our age old culture and Sishupalgarh in Odisha have brought to light and traditions in Suvarnabhumi. terracotta Roman Bullion, lamps and roulette ware BALIYATRA which suggest that Odisha had contacts with the Baliyatra or as it is popularly known as Roman world since the early historical period. One of the most important and unique aspects of the Boita Bandana Yatra, means A oceanic Odisha’s Cultural Heritage is that, we Odias Voyage to Bali in its literary sense. This festival preserve our traditions and customs through our is held in the city of Cuttack at Gadagadia ages without breaking the sanctity till the present Ghata of the Mahanadi river. It is being day. The customs, traditions and the systems of celebrated to mark the day, when the our ancient period have invited scholars from far ancient mariners named as Sadhabas in and wide. We feel proud in our rich cultural Odia (Odia mariners) would go in sailing to distant heritage, with the actual glory of our past. We lands like Bali, Java (known as “Yawadweepa”), give due regards to the cultural identity, historical Sumatra, Borneo (presently Indonesia), and Sri continuity and significance to many of our long Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) for trade and standing cultural traditions and the lasting commerce as well as cultural expansion. To impressions they left on our lives. The Early celebrate this, the festival is organised every year Historical Period saw Odisha’s trade relations from the day of Kartika Purnima (full moon day with Thailand, Malaysia and islands of Java and of the month of Kartika) as per the Odia Bali (Indonesia). Suvarnabhumi and Calendar, which comes around the end of Suvarnadweepa (Sumatra) have many references October and early November as per the English in our ancient culture, literature and scriptures, Calendar. NOVEMBER - 2019 41 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review The people of Odisha gather near the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is believed to have set banks of Mahanadi, Brahmani river, and in other foot in Odisha after crossing the Mahanadi River river banks, ponds, water tanks and sea shores on the day of Karttik Purnima and the day is to float miniature toy boats, made of coloured celebrated in memory of the saint. The day is papers, dried banana tree barks, and cork, as a observed by singing devotional songs and group symbol of their ancestors’ sea journey to distant prayers. places. These handmade toy boats, usually sailed Odisha has a long maritime history. early in the morning and it contains with Paan, Traders known as “Sadhabas” used to set off in Gua (Betel leaf and betel nuts) and a small oil huge boats called “Boitas” from the ports of lamps or cotton oil sticks , which are lit and placed Odisha to the distant ports of Bali, Sumatra, inside them, to provide an attractive sight during Borneo and Sri Lanka. The traders would take the early morning time in the wee hours of the advantage of favourable winds and sea currents day of the festival. This early morning time is little in the winters to ply their trade with distant lands. darker and not so lighted by the morning. People The expeditions would traditionally set off on the usually the women folk sing a song as “ Aa ka day of Karttik Purnima, which usually corresponds ma boi, pan gua thoi, Paana Gua Tora to the full moon day in the month of November. Masaka Dharam Mora”, to remember the The boats were given a hearty send off by the early maritime trade history of Odisha. The song womenfolk with prayers for their well-being and tells about four months (Aa for Aswina, Kaa for safe passage. The memory of these expeditions Kartika, Maa for Margashira and Boi for is kept alive in the festival of Boita Bandana, Baisakha) that are important for marine merchants where replicas of the sea faring boats of yore are of Kalinga (the earlier name of Odisha). The set afloat in ponds and water bodies. It is meaning of this song is the time period of sea commonly observed that devotees take holy bath journey to South East island countries during in Puri Sea Beach and worship Lord Jagannath Asweena and Kartika and the return journey on this holy day. This festival is celebrated with during Margasira to Baisakha. This festival is also lot of respect by each and every individual of celebrated with equal pride and great fanfare Odisha. in Paradeep. Bali Jatra bears testimony to the rich In Cuttack, this Bali Jatra is celebrated maritime trade legacy of ancient Odisha. This is annually as a large open fair near the Barabati the actual time that was considered auspicious Fort area and inside the available land area of the by the Sadhabas to start their sea voyage in Mahanadi River near the Barabati Fort and indigenous vessels called Boitas. The voyage is Gadgadia Ghata. It is said as one of the largest started on Kartika Purnima to take advantage fairs of Asia. Apart from a trade fair Bali Jatra of the favourable wind blowing during this also provides a lot of cultural programmes. Every time. Ajhala or Pala means the big fabric cotton year millions of people from all over the nation sails, were used to utilise the favourable wind come to experience and enjoy this fair. power to move the Boitas. It is also interesting to state that a big Men and women dress in traditional similarity has been found between “Boita costumes, light lamps in the boats and launch them Bandana” events celebrated in Odisha with the in the nearest water body. The Vaishnavite saint celebration of “Masakapana Tukud” festival of 42 NOVEMBER - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Bali where similar floating of toy boats bring the Indians from lower Krishna valley (the Cholas, memories of ancient maritime activities of both the Pandyas, the Malayalese, and Kannadigas) the places. The “Loykrathong” or “Loy” festival were settled in Sumatra. Apart from this people organised by Thailand in the month of December of Kalinga also played a greater role in Java as represents ritualistic floating of boats which has compared to other regions of South East Asia an adequate similarities with Odishan customs. from 8th century A.D. onwards. The author refers modern Java seas as Kalinga seas and it can be MARITIME TRADE OF ODISHA implied that he refers the most important part of The ancient voyages from Kalinga, Java as Kalinga. merchants and traders of Kalinga were influential Kalinga was instrumental in shaping the in spreading the Odia Culture in Suvarnabhumi. history and culture of Indonesia especially in the The cultural interactions regain the lost glory from island of Bali. The maritime trade of Kalinga the prism of rich ancient Maritime Trade of brought prosperity to the kingdom which could Kalinga (ancient Odisha). Maritime activities of largely be attributed to her overseas trade with Kalinga form one of the interesting facets of the distant lands like Indonesia. The people of Kalinga Odisha History. Because of this trade activities maintained lasting commercial and cultural cultural heritage, customs, beliefs, language, ideas, relationship with the Indonesian islands of Java, scriptures, Sanatana Dharma’s finer aspects of Sumatra, Bali and Borneo collectively sometime Kalinga got popularized and accepted in those referred by some scholars as “Suvarnadvipa”. The habitations in other countries where settlements island of Bali formed the most attractive were established by Kalinga’s merchants, traders destination for the merchants of Kalinga. In this and political voyagers. process, Odia culture, customs, religious beliefs, The sailors used to complete their trip in ideas, language, script and manners were 180 days from Cuttack (Mahanadi’s mouth place) popularised in this island. to Bali and back covering a distance of 14,000 Kalinga had close links with the Hindu km during mid November to Mid May. The sailing kingdom of Bali. The island of Bali was known to period was 120 days and the rest 60 days were the sailors of Kalinga as Narikela dweepa. Many used for trade. The onward journey to Bali would Balinese inscriptions refer to Bali as the island of be completed by mid January and the return coconut. The sailors of Kalinga made frequent journey started in mid March. Thus the climatic voyages to the island of Bali and had their conditions in Bali and other South Asian Countries settlements in the island that consequently spread favoured traders during January to March and various aspects of Odia culture. This glorious past free from heavy equatorial showers. has been preserved in a festival of Odisha known KALINGA’S ROLE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA as Bali Yatra, celebrated throughout the length and breadth of Odisha. Kalinga was instrumental in shaping the history and culture of South East Asia especially Kalinga and the island of Bali have in the Malayo or Malabya-Indonesia. As per influenced each other’s culture very extensively.