By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:The Kuakhai Riverfront of Ekamra constituency is bustling with activity after the inauguration of the Baliyatra Festival. For the first time, Baliyatra Festival has been organized on an area of about 20 acres. Today, on Kartik Purnima, Bhajans and cultural programs were performed by various cultural organizations from 3 pm to 4 am. Actress Arjita Sahu and many artists participated in this.
At 7:15 am, the President of Baliyatra Committee and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh joined the Boit Bandan festival as the chief guest and inaugurated the Boit Bandan festival. The program was attended by the General Secretary of the Committee, Kaviraj Swain, Bhubaneswar Blob President and Advisor to the Committee, Nirupama Sahu.
In the evening, Bhajans were performed by Pankaj Jhal and Manasi Group and Gagan Bihari. In the evening, the committee president and Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, committee general secretary Kaviraj Swain, Bhubaneswar BLUB president and committee advisor Nirupama Sahu inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp.
BJP leaders Prashant Pradhan, Suryakant Sahu, Khirod Kumar Swain were the prominent participants on this occasion. The residents of the capital enjoyed various cultural programs on a cold night. The festival will continue till the 12th. Ekamra Baliyatra Festival-2025 has been organized for the second time for the youth and youth groups of Ekamra constituency, Bankual, Keshura, Koradkanta, Durgapur Patna and Basuagahar. Keeping in mind the law and order, elaborate security arrangements have been made with the help of Commissionerate Police Traffic and Badagarh Police Station Police. The area
64 CCTV cameras have been installed at various places. Arrangements have been made for food stalls and markets with various dolis. An incredible crowd was seen on the first day. The golden tradition and historical saga of the Kalinga Sadhava’s ocean journey has now become a festival in Odisha, known as the Boit Vandana festival.
Today, the entire village and city are bustling for the holy Kartik Purnima. On this occasion, MLA Babu Singh said that the Boit Vandana festival held on this Kartik Purnima commemorates the commercial success of the Sadhava sons of ancient Utkal and Kalinga. Keeping the Utkal culture and tradition intact, the Ekamra Kshetra Baliyatra festival was inaugurated with great pomp on the occasion of holy Kartik Purnima.
The Odia Sadhava sons of ancient Utkal used to go to distant islands like Bali, Java, Borneo and do business during this time. They spread education, initiation, culture, tradition, craftsmanship, scientific systems everywhere. As a result, the whole world was illuminated by us.
Thus, the tradition of Vandana is an image of the ancient Utkal culture. Since ancient times, our Sadhava Pus have successfully established trade relations with countries like Java, Bali, Sumatra, Borneo and Burma through historic and adventurous sea voyages and have created a unique identity in the world court with the courage and bravery of the Odia people.
The main objective of this unique area Bali Yatra festival is to protect the Odia identity. The Boit Bandan festival is a silent witness to the ancient economic and glorious history of Odisha. The stories of the Sadhava Pus of Odisha have become an inspiration for the youth. The Sadhava Pus’ feat is remembered by lighting lamps in a boat made of banana leaves, setting sail in a river or pond. The whole world was illuminated by us, said Shri Singh.
