President Droupadi Murmu overwhelmed to grace Boita Bandan ceremony

Paradip: President Droupadi Murmu had on Monday a joyous moment to see for herself the grand and glittering Boita Bandana ceremony organised by the Paradip Port Authority on the occasion of Kartika Purnima.

She was literally overwhelmed as she saw men and women, dressed as traditional merchant sailors and their wives, welcoming her at the port city amidst playing of conventional music and dance.

Boita Bandan is observed every year on Kartika Purnima day to celebrate Odisha’s glorious maritime past. The Odia sailors used to sell to far-off countries like Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Bali Island in Indonesia with goods produced in Odisha. They used to bring spices, ivory items and other goods and articles from those places and sold them on the bank of river Mahanadi at Cuttack.

The President ceremonially flagged off sailing of a well-decorated boat in the sea. Boys dressed as Sadhavas (traditional merchant sailors) sailed in the boat while girls in Sadhavani attire (wives of Sadhavas), saw them off, wishing good trades in the destined lands and safe return.  

“Boita Bandan is a unique festival celebrated in the memory of our glorious past. Celebrated since time immemorial, this festival is a symbol of the prosperity of the maritime trade of Odisha. It also highlights the rich cultural consciousness of the people of Odisha,” she observed.

The President further stated that the sea has been a major means of strengthening India's trade, commerce and international relations while literature based on the sea has also enriched Indian culture.

“Odisha and other coastal states had a long and prosperous tradition of naval commerce. Apart from trade and commerce, those merchants also played an important role in spreading Indian art and culture abroad,” she added.

The President also said that while maritime trade is playing an important role in the trade and economic development of the country, nearly 95 per cent of India's total trade in terms of volume and 65 per cent in terms of value are done through sea transport.

Underscoring the need for ports to function with greater efficiency as per the global standards, the President said that hence, there is a need to further strengthen the port infrastructure to increase their efficiency.

She said that the Sagarmala project is a commendable step in this direction through which the Union government is working to realise the vision of ‘Ports for Prosperity’ and ‘Ports for Progress’

The President also virtually inaugurated a Multi Model Logistic Park as well as laid the foundation stones for new reservoir and water treatment plant for Port Township and the next generation Vessel Traffic Management and Information System at Paradip.