Baliyatra: Commemorating Odisha’s Maritime Heritage

The ancient Kalinga (modern Odisha) was a great maritime power on the eastern coast of ancient India. It played a prominent role in maritime activities in the Asian subcontinent. The Kalinga Empire had a vast coastline stretching from the river Ganges to the river Godavari. The prosperity of ancient Kalinga was attributed largely to maritime trade activities. It was one of the reasons that emperor Ashoka occupied Kalinga in 261 BC and annexed it to his mighty Mauryan Empire. The Kalinga War of Asoka was considered one of the most devastating wars in the war history of the world. It was the last war of the Mauryan emperor, and that transformed Asoka into Dharmashok from Chandashok. The emperor was awakened into the cult of love and non-violence. The Kalinga war was a watershed event that carved out the path for Buddhism, to emerge as one of the important religions out of a very small local sect.

The unique geographical location of Odisha along the shore of the Bay of Bengal provided ample opportunities for its people to venture into maritime trade. There were regular voyages from ports to Southeast Asian countries like Sri Lanka, China, and Japan and other Western countries like Greece, Rome, etc. The overseas activities of ancient Kalinga were not limited to trade and commerce but were extended to political and cultural activities as well. In ancient times, Odisha’s ports like Chilika, Konark, Puri, Tamralipti, Palur, and Chelitola were famous on the eastern coast of India.

Ptolemy, the legendary Greek geographer also referred to many ports on the coastline of Odisha. During the rule of the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas, the maritime activities of Odisha gradually declined and were reduced to a very low scale. Over time, the ports of Odisha had lost their maritime importance. However, with the advent of Europeans, some of the ports of Odisha revived and emerged as important maritime trade centers on the eastern coast between the 18^th to 19^th centuries. The Portuguese were the first to arrive at Odisha coast at Balasore in the early 16^th century followed by the Dutch, the French and the Britishers. After the British occupation of Odisha in 1803, Cuttack became the administrative headquarters of Odisha.

To commemorate the glorious Maritime Heritage of Odisha, every year, Baliyatra, a seven-day cultural extravaganza, is celebrated from the day of Karthik Purnima at GadagadiaGhata on the bank of river Mahanadi at Cuttack. It is a historical celebration to remember the brave Odia merchants, fondly known as SadhavaPuas who sailed to reach distant places like Bali, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sri Lanka and Burma to make a fortune from international trade.

On the full moon day of the holy Kartika Purnima, which falls in the month of October-November, people gather near the banks of river Mahanadi to set afloat small boats, made of banana trunks, thermocol and fancy paper as a symbolic gesture to celebrate Odisha’s maritime legacy. People gather from early morning to afloat boats which contains paan and earthen diya or candle which creates an attractive spectacle of Boita Bandana Utsav. People also sing the song “Aa ka ma boi, pan guathoi, panaguatora, masaka dharma mora” which is a part of the ritual.

Besides the cultural and historical aspects, Baliyatra has been an important commercial dimension. It is now considered the largest open-air trade fair in the country. It attracts businessmen, industrial houses, and traders from all parts of the country. Baliyatra is a direct trading platform where there is no involvement of any middlemen. Even people eagerly look forward to this much-awaited annual fair to collect their desired articles. They purchase everything starting from automobiles and electronic devices to traditional ethnic crafts and petty household articles at a very reasonable price. However, the special features of Baliyatraare the collection of a variety of local products like filigree works, forest products, agricultural items, and above all the Odisha handloom sarees and fabrics, etc. The fair attracts thousands of visitors to gather here upto late in the night. Apart from that the visitors also enjoy relishing a variety of foods ranging from continental to local street food. But the major attraction of Baliyatra is the mouth-watering iconic traditional food of Cuttack i.e., “Thunka Puri” and “Dahibara- Aloodum”.

Nowadays, the Baliyatra festival is celebrated with much pomp and grandeur and is organized on both the upper and lower ground of river Mahanadi. The fair also provides entertainment for all age groups. Apart from the daily cultural programs in the evening, people also enjoy riding facilities with their friends and relatives. The fair is estimated to see business worth more than Rs 200 crore over its seven days.