Two celebrations unite the Greater Orient and Bharat:
1. Water festival in Khmer (Cambodia); 2. Bali yatra in Bharatam.
Whoever said that people of Indian Ocean Community lack a sense of history?
The sense of history is so ingrained in the psyche, that every Karthik Purnima Day, every year, the two celebrations are held in the maritime region with peoples' participation remembering events over one millennium old.
Both events commemorate the indelible historical memory of sea traders or Sadhabas who were sailing off to Bali that is an island off the Bay of Bengal from the coastline of the state of Orissa. The celebrations are a remembered memory of Dharma-Dhamma continuum celebrated in the magnum opus of the French Epigraphist George Coedes, titled Histoire ancienne des États hindouisés d'Extrême-Orient, 1944 Ancient History of Hinduised States of Greater Orient.
This memory should be enshrined by restoring the daily puja in Angkor wat, the world's largest Vishnu temple and creating an Indian Ocean Community as a counterpoise to European Community.
With the support of people of the Greater Orient, this can happen.
S. Kalyanaraman, Sarasvati Research Center
The Re-celebration of Cambodian Water Festival
By Chanratana Chen / November 8, 2014
Dr. CHEN Chanratana
Founder/President of Kerdomnel Khmer Foundation
Ph.D of Archaeology and History of Art of S.E Asia
University of Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris III
Instructor: Khmer Studies; Khmer Arts at Zaman University
Founder/President of Kerdomnel Khmer Foundation
Ph.D of Archaeology and History of Art of S.E Asia
University of Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris III
Instructor: Khmer Studies; Khmer Arts at Zaman University
Khmer History, Khmer Culture, Social Research, Anthropology, and Social Theory at University of CambodiaNational Heritage Expert for DC-Cam
Director Project of Kerdomnel Khmer for the Mission of Koh Ker
Director Project of Kerdomnel Khmer for the Mission of Koh Ker
Archaeological Research
Preah Sisowath High School Research Project team leader
Member of Cambodian Historians Association - CHA
+855 (98) 64 55 55 (Please sms to me if you can't reach by calling)
www.kerdomnelkhmer.wordpress.
www.kerdomnel-khmer.org
E-mail: ch.chanratana@gmail.
chanratana@kerdomnel-khmer.org
Skype: chen.chanratana
+855 (98) 64 55 55 (Please sms to me if you can't reach by calling)
www.kerdomnelkhmer.wordpress.
www.kerdomnel-khmer.org
E-mail: ch.chanratana@gmail.
chanratana@kerdomnel-khmer.org
Skype: chen.chanratana
Lakhs throng historic Bali Yatra festival in Cuttack
Bhubaneswar, 7/11 ( Odisha Samachar / Abhisek Mohanty ) : Lakhs of people thronged Bali Yatra ground to witness the week-long historic Bali Yatra festival that was opened on Kartik Purnima on Thursday at Cuttack.Successive kingdoms in Odisha had rich maritime trade with links to Bali, Java and Sumatra, with which came the cultural influences reflected as in the art of ikat weaving and silver filigree work of Cuttack. To commemorate these old time links, the festival called ‘Bali Yatra’ is held on the banks of the river Mahanadi in Cuttack during the full moon of Kartik.![Balijatra 1]()
Over 1,300 stalls have been erected by traders from Odisha and outside in an area of about 37 acres of land making a treat to witness wide ranges of household articles, electronic, ethnic goods and food items at this popular festival, which is scheduled to continue till November 12, 2014.
Besides that, elaborate arrangements have been made for security, crowd management and traffic. CCTV cameras have also been installed at different locations to keep an eye on the trouble makers during the festival.
 The historic Baliyatra Cuttack Utsav has been an inseparable part of the socio-cultural mileu of the millennium city of Cuttack. To commemorate the ancient maritime glory of the past, this vast trade fair of national repute is being organised every year in the shape of Baliyatra Cuttack Utsav on the river bank of Mahanadi at Cuttack. The Baliyatra Cuttack Ustav-2014 is commencing from 6th of November 2014 & shall continue for a period of 7 days till 12th of November 2014. The District Administration is all set to dedicate the historic fair like in earlier years on the day of Karthik Purnima to the public i.e. on 6th of November 2014. All out efforts have been made by the District Administration & District Council of Culture to give an international flavour by staging international artists to perform in the Ganakabi Baishnab Pani Mancha. The Council also brings out a colourful Souvenir enriched with historical & research oriented articles from erudite persons. Shri N.C Mishra, the Collector and Chairman D.C.C Cuttack had briefed the print and electronic media on 6th of November 2014 and disseminated the relevant information relating to Baliyatra Cuttack Utsav - 2014 to the press. This year more than 1300 stalls(both govt. and non-govt) will be erected to display their range of product and services for a period of seven days. A target of Rs 60lakhs has been fixed for collection towards license fees from the stall owners. Like previous year the much awaited Filigree hub is being set up for displaying the filigree legacy of Cuttack. Cuttack celebrates Kartika Purnima with pomp and gaietyThursday, 06 November 2014 - 12:57pm IST |  Girl sailing paper boats on the occasion of Kartik Purnima at Gadagadia ghat in Cuttack - Susant Kumar Das Kartik Purnima was celebrated with religious fervor throughout the state on Thursday. The day, which marks the end of the Hindu month Kartik, saw people observing the rituals of Boita Bandan by floating tiny boats in pond, rivers and other water bodies. People flocked in large numbers along riverside and other water bodies and floated the miniature boats and offered prayers in nearby temples. Many locals had brought along the traditional miniature boats made out of banana stem and decorated with incense sticks, earthen lamps, flowers, fruits and coins. A huge traditional boat was also set to sail on the Mahanadi with seven men playing the role of Sadhaba and seven women enacting as their wives to recreate a legendary tale related to the ceremony of Boita Bandana. “The tradition is as old as the state itself and is a reminder of the maritime glory of Odisha, when Sadhbas (Sea traders) sailed off to distance lands of Java, Sumantra, Bali, Ceylon, Daman and Diu for trade in huge boat. The women of the community saw them off with a prayer to protect the people in their sea voyage and for their safer return,’’ narrates Subrat Swain, one of the devotee. Lipina Das a resident of Deula Sahi shared, “The boats for this ritual should be made from the bark of the banana tree. However, now people float boats made out of paper and thermocol which isn’t the actual tradition.” “There are many reasons for Boita Bandana being so special to Odia families. Since the state is situated by the sea and we have a strong maritime culture, this event is an integral part of our traditions,” said Mohan Rout, a resident of Buzi Bazaar. Bali Yatra, which is said to be the largest fair of Odisha, begins on Kartik Purnima and lasts for a period of seven days. The festival is held in the sands of river Mahanadi in Cuttack to mark the glorious past of the state as in the ancient days. Odia merchants were sailing to Java and Sumatra for trading, on large vessels called ‘Boita’. Thursday, 06 November 2014 - 12:57pm IST | |
| Bali Yatra Festival: Odisha Connecting Indonesia Friday, November 07, 2014 |
By Sameer Kumar Das; A festival named Bali Yatra i.e. ‘Journey to Bali’ celebrated in the coastal Odisha is a unique socio-cultural event performed for more than 1000 years to commemorate the rich maritime heritage of Kalinga with South East Asian countries and Sri Lanka. Also known as Boita Bandana Utsav (or Boat Worshipping Festival i.e. ceremonial sending forth of boats to distant shores), the event is performed in every household of Odisha in memory of those Sadhabapuas (Odia traders) who commence their maritime voyage to Bali, Java & Sumatra for trade and cultural expansion on the auspicious day of Kartika Purnima, the full-moon day of the month Kartika (October-November) as per the Hindu calender. During this festive period, the idols of "Kartikeswar" are constructed and worshipped. A large number of men, women and children gathering in colorful costumes in all water bodies ( pond, lake, river or sea), carrying tiny boats made up of banana peels or paper with lighted lamps inside, to float them on the gentle waves accompanied by blowing of conch, music, ritual funfair, dance and occasional burst of crackers. Oriya women perform the ritual of 'Boita Bandana' to pay tribute to the Kalingan sailors. On this festival an Oriya lyric is usually recited i.e. 'Aa-Ka-Ma-Bai, Pana-Gua- Thoi'. Also traditional rituals like 'Bhalukuni Osha' or 'Khudurukuni Osha' and 'Bada Osha' are observed. In Cuttack, the annual Baliyatra Festival celebrated as a grand open air event on the bank of River Mahanadi at Cuttack adjacent to the Barabati Fort is a major attraction for tourists and locals. The Cuttack Baliyatra is attended by thousands of enthusiasts and is marked with fun. Depicting the symbol of ancient maritime glory of the erstwhile Kalinga, the festival showcases the traditional art and craft of the State with full-scale entertainment. Stalls having electronics goods, handicrafts, fast foods including Odia delicacies have all lined up to make brisk business. Odisha Tourism also offers tours to Odisha during the Baliyatra festival. This festival is also celebrated with great fanfare in Paradeep, Puri, and Bhubaneswar for five to six consecutive days. Historical Background: In the past the fabulous wealth of South East Asia had attracted the sailors and merchants of Kalinga. It had its impact on the folklore of Odisha. The legend of Ta Poi, popular in every household of Odisha, evokes the memory of sea voyages to distant land as a young maiden’s wait for the return of her sailor brothers. The entire two-way trade route of 14,000 kms from the mouth of Mahanadi to Bali and back used to be completed by Kalinga Sadhabapuas in about 180 days (during mid-November to mid-May). The ships used to sail at a speed of 4.86 k.p.h. The seaworthy sailing period was 120 days while the rest 60 days were spent on trading and rest. The outward journey starts from Mahanadi mouth by mid-November and reach Bali by mid-January, a journey of two months in the sea. They trade in South East Asian countries for two months (mid-January to mid-March). Significantly this period is comparatively free from very heavy equatorial showers which provides an ideal climate for trading in this equatorial region. They start their return journey by mid-March to reach Kalinga Coast by mid-May. The ‘Boita Bandana’ festival itself has a parallel celebration in the Masakapan Ke Tukad of Bali with a similar offering of boats in memory of their maritime ancestors. There are shared symbols of worship such as the mountain Mahendragiri and the river Mahendratanaya; the rice rituals of Garbhana Sankranti in Odisha and its parallel, the Mabinukukung at Bali; the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, in Odisha and Devi Sri in Bali. So also in the temporal world we see a sharing of aesthetic and world view in the fields of architecture, performing arts, particularly the enactment at the Ramlila, leather shadow puppetry, masks, the Ikat tradition in textiles and pata painting on fabric and palm leaf, common to both cultures. A catalyst for Inbound Tourism Baliyatra Festival of Odisha can be a major catalyst to augment the footfalls of inbound tourism from ASEAN region because of its international reach showcasing the rich maritime tradition of ancient India. So, the event should not be looked upon as a local festival with onus only on Odisha tourism to develop the product. As per the 2012 tourism statistics of India and Odisha, only 233 tourists from Indonesia visited Odisha out of 29559 which is just 0.78%. Also out of the total FTAs of 6577745 to India in 2012, Indonesia’s share is 0.45% (with 29559) whereas USA and UK contributed 15.81% and 11.98% respectively. So, taking cues from the Government of India’s “Look East” policy, both India & Odisha Tourism should reach out to the captive yet affluent market of ASEAN region through an awareness drive and capitalizing on the ancient socio-cultural linkage of Kalinga. Also due to the proximity of these source markets to Eastern India, particularly Odisha, , the destination can also be promoted as short-haul weekend gateway for travellers from South East Asia. Marketing theme can focus around “Buddhism”, “Root Tourism” and “Kalingan Heritage”. Also the travellers from Sri Lanka and South East Asia will pay high regard to Odisha because of the ancient land of Kalinga hence the State can garner positive perception and goodwill thereby enhancing its global brand image. Both, the Union & State Govt, must jointly promote this weeklong cultural extravaganza of Baliyatra Festival at an international arena particularly in the ASEAN countries. Odisha Tourism need to invite the Embassies of Sri Lanka and all the South East Asian countries to participate in the Bali Yatra event and express solidarity to the common socio-cultural heritage of ancient Kalinga. Also FAM tours for media and tour operators from these countries to be organized. The Bali Yatra event has to be highlighted by Odisha Tourism through road shows & cultural events in various cities of Indonesia such as Bali, Java & Sumatra. Also in Bali which is Hindu dominated region of Indonesia, Odisha Tourism can promote Hindu pilgrimage to Bhubaneswar and Puri particularly for the forthcoming ‘Naba Kalevara Ceremony’ of Lord Jagannath and can also showcase the ancestral links of Balinese people with Odisha Hence, an aggressive marketing through a strategic paradigm shift and a radical approach with a ‘Look East’ policy will fetch immediate result and will give Odisha its due recognition in international tourism. But it is also an irony that the great maritime tradition of the ancient Odisha known for its economic glory has been reduced to the ritual of sailing tiny boats on the Kartika Purmina day. (The author Sameer Kumar Das is a Delhi-based Travel Consultant who writes a blog ‘Kalinga Calling’ to promote the glorious legacy of ancient Odisha) |