CBS Office
5 Nov 2025
Boita Bandana Utsav 2025, Boat Club, Cuttack
On November 5th, 2025, Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy ji was graciously invited to participate in the Boita Bandana Utsav held at the Boat Club in Cuttack. As part of the celebration, Dr. Satpathy ji ceremoniously floated a miniature boat crafted from a banana stem.
While addressing the gathering, Dr. Satpathy spoke in depth about Odisha’s illustrious maritime heritage and its vibrant cultural traditions. Through his remarks, he underscored the profound significance of the Boita Bandana festival.
In Odisha, people celebrates Kartik Purnima(Boita Bandana), to commemorate its cultural heritage and the rich maritime history of Kalinga. The festival honors the ancient maritime trade legacy of Odisha, when sailors and traders known as "Sadhabas" would set sail to distant lands like Bali, Sumatra, and Java during Kalinga era.
During the celebration, people gather at water bodies, particularly rivers and ponds, to float miniature boats made of banana stems and coconut sticks, decorated with diyas, betel leaves, fruits, and coins. This ritual, known as Boita Bandana, symbolizes the Sadhabas' voyages and the state's glorious past.
By celebrating Boita Bandana, the people of Odisha pay tribute to their ancestors' bravery and seafaring skills, while also rejuvenating their cultural identity.