Balijatra

                     A Voyage to Bali

Hi,  My name is Sibani Singh, Gote Odia Jhia (an Odia girl). I’m here to share my Odia Culture, Histories and Stories with you.

This post is all about the why? who? when? where? how? and wow!! of Baliyatra/Balijatra.

Let’s dive in…

“Om Ganga, Sindhu, Saraswati, Vipasa, KausikaNadi Yamuna.

Mahanadi Srestha Saraya Mahati.”

This is a Balinese stuti recited in Bali and which suggests Mahanadi as a sacred river, which marks the beliefs amalgamated between Bali and Odisha.

When does History suggest?

• 3rd Century BCE

Local tradition ascribes Baliyatra to 3rd Century BCE, when 2000 families from Kalinga are believed to have migrated to Bali. The departure may be speculated to have been affected due to the Kalinga War in 261 BCE or an invitation for the Brahmins of the ruling class in Java.

• 1st Century CE (foreign trade route maps)

The earliest mentions of ancient parts in Odisha, in foreign accounts, is in the Periplus of Erythrean Sea, which is a text on maritime trade and navigational routes in Indian Ocean, these parts are mentioned by travelers such as Pliny, Fa-Hien, and I-tsing.

• 5th Century CE (Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa)

The might of Kalinga’s King was described in Raghuvamsa, as “Asau Mahendradisamanasarah Patirmahendrasya mahodadhisch” (His might is equivalent to Mahendragiri and he is the lord of Mahendra Giri and Lord of the Ocean”.

Buddhist text Arya Manjushri Mulakalpa mentions the Bay of Bengal as “Kalinga Sea ” and the islands within were called “Kalingadresu”.

• 15th Century CE (Sarala Mahabharata)

The First words of “AaKaMaBoi” in context of taking morning baths in the Kartik Purnima are the earliest reference to the Rituals of Bali Yatra.

• 1992

Govt. of Odisha, sailed a ship “INS V Samudra” to Bali to retrace the routes as a symbol of Kalinga Maritime History. The boat was called “Boat to Bali”  as it sailed off from Paradeep Port.

“Too much of History right?

Well, we should be proud of our Kalinga Maritime Heritage”

DID YOU KNOW? A section of Brahmans in Karangasem District, Indonesia called themselves as Brahmins-Buddha-Kalinga.

So the next “Obvious Question” is

Why is Baliyatra celebrated?

Obviously because we voyaged to Bali and traded in Bali.

Mmmmmm……. Yeah, partially correct.

The Klinga Empire (Present-day Odisha) is known for its glorious maritime history. Due to the geographical location of Kalinga, this area witnessed the growth of ports as early as the 4th and 5th BCE. Some of the famous ports Tamralipti, Manikpatna, Chelitalo, Palur, Pithunda allowed India to connect with the world via sea route. Soon the Kalinga’s had trade links with Sri Lanka, Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Bali and Burma. Bali formed a part of the four islands that were collectively called “Suvarnadvipa”, today known as “Indonesia”.        Kalinga Ocean Traders (Sadhabas) were also known as  “Lord of the Seas”.

“Roman Ancient Coins found in Mayunbhanj District suggest the potential and ancient trade practices of Kalinga Traders.”

Traditions, Folklores and

“Ta-Poi”

Boita – Long Ships

Sadhabas – Merchants (Voyagers)

Sadhabani – The wives of Sadhabas

Boita Bandãna also known as “Danga Bhasa” is a traditional Odia Maritime and Naval Festival celebrated annually throughout Odisha. It’s a tradition of making decorated boats, which are floated in the rivers as a “Symbolic gesture of their ancestors voyage”.

The festival is celebrated on Kartik Purnima which is the full moon day in the month of Kartika in the Odia Calender.

The boats are floated in the river after reciting the phrase “ã ka mã boi, pãna guã thoi, pãna guã tora, mãsaka dharama mora”, which symbolizes the tradition Sadhabani has to keep following for the goodwill of their Sadhabas

until they return.

Ta Poi was the youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant family, and her seven elder brothers adored her. When the brothers left for the voyage, Ta Poi was under the care of their wives. But the seven wives were careless in regards to Ta-Poi. Ta-Poi ran away to the jungle and worshiped Maa Mangala (one of manifestations of Shakti) for her brothers and father to return early. Fortunately, they returned early and witnessed their sister being treated as a maid. The brothers brought Ta-Poi back home and confronted the wives for their mis-deeds. Hence, Khudrakuni Osha or Bada Osha is being celebrated throughout Odisha.

Modern Day

          Bali Yatra:

Celebrated on the banks of Mahanadi River in Cuttack. The stories I have heard, since childhood is what I witnessed after being placed at Paradeep, Jagatsinghpur, Odisha. It’s magical when you witness everything you heard as a toddler. The culture here is discrete. The rituals have a great significance for the communities as it marks an auspicious start to the trading season.

The ancient festival has been modified as per modern demands,

It’s Asia’s Largest Open Trade Fair

• Spread across 100 Acres
• Nestled between Mahanadi and Barabati
• 15000+ shops/stalls, business
• Adventure sports activities
• Crores of business everyday
• Cultural programmes involving celebrities
• Food and Delicacies
• Eco Friendly

To conclude it can be said that the course of Odishan Maritime

Contact with Bali was in reality, a cultural interaction between the two regions which needs to be celebrated and the Baliyatra provides the perfect platform to be proud of Kalingan People and the History.

A Proud Odia

Thank You.