Boita Bandana, Odisha’s Deep Rooted Cultural Diversity with Asia
ଆକା ମା ବୋଇ ପାନ ଗୁଆ ଥୋଇ ପାନ ଗୁଆ ତକ ତୋର ମାସକ ଯାକ ଧରମ ମୋର. Is all what we Odia chants while floating a boat to mark the end of auspicious month Kartika in Odia Hindu Callander. Its a day that reminds each Odia of our deep rooted history of maritime glory long a go how our ancestors sail to various part of the world, particularly Asian continent in search of new livelihoods, settlements, trade to distant lands like Java, Sumatra, Bali, and Indonesia, Malaysia for trade using huge boats (Boita).
Now, we float tiny boats made out of cork and coloured paper or bark of the banyan tree or banana starch while reminiscing the past glory. This we called “Boita Bandana”, the Odia community celebrates this every year to remember centuries old tradition of relationship beyond country boarders.
Well once I was in Thailand during Panchuka of auspicious Kartika month. Although I managed the vegetarian food, skipped going to temple, rather prayed Ganesha on the street but was missing the Kartika Purnima Boat Floating in Bangkok.
Then in the evening after conference proceeding and cultural event there was an invitation announcement to those interest may join the local people as they celebrate Loi Krathong. Initially my thought was perhaps a fire cracker or lantern show until I reached the water body site by walk. Then I was asked one of those decorated on a sliced Banana Plant to float in the water bodies for Gods blessings.
I couldn’t stop myself believing as if God heard my feeling in the morning and arranged Boita Bandana in Bangkok. Initially my thoughts were as if it was part of cultural events for international delegates, until I understood the festival in details and explored similarities with ours Kartika Purnima morning Boat Floating or Boita Bandana.
In Odisha the morning of Kartika Purnima is one of the most picturesque festivals of Odia’s when people gather around lakes, rivers and canals to mark the end of auspicious month of Kartika. We float replica of Boat made of Banana flat or in thermocoal etc by remembering our past maritime history. The festival is celebrated in the morning of full moon, where we say oh god Paan, Bettle Nuts are for you and past one month blessings are mine. Interestingly in Thailand people do respect to the goddess of water by releasing beautiful lotus-shaped rafts, decorated with candles, incense and flowers onto the water.
This reminds me of Odia new year when we celebrate it on Bisuba Sankranti, there use to be traditional new year in Asia called . Means both Odisha and Thailand people do have some similarities with Kartika Purnima. As Thai people observed similar activities in the evening of full moon day of Kartika called Loi Krathong.
The word Loi in Thai means ‘to float’ and krathong translates to ‘basket or boat’, so the meaning of Loi Krathong is ‘float a basket’. A krathong is a small lotus-shaped boat traditionally made from banana leaves and decorated with flowers. In the center of the Krathong, there are traditionally 3 sticks of incense and a lit candle, and other things like hair and coins.
Every year, Loi Krathong falls on the night of the 12th lunar month (usually in November), at the end of the rainy season when the full moon lights up the sky. The sight of thousands of krathongs, their flickering candles sending a thousand pinpoints of light far into the horizon is a truly magical sight, across Thailand just like Boita Bandana in Odisha.
The history behind the festival is complex, and Thais celebrate it for many reasons. As the main rice harvest season ends, it’s time to thank the Water Goddess for a year’s worth of her abundant supply, as well as an apology for polluting the waters. Even some believe that this is the time to symbolically ‘float away’ all the anger and grudges one have been holding onto, and including a fingernail or a lock of hair is seen as a way of letting go of a dark side of oneself, to start anew free of negative feelings. Like If someones candle stays alight until your Krathong disappears out of sight, it means a year of good luck.
Traditionally, Thais release their krathong into rivers and small canals called klongs. Nowadays, a pond or lake is fine. Like Boita Bandana Uschav, in Thailand many places host a string of cultural activities, such as Ram Wong dance performances, krathong-making competitions and even beauty contest. Nowadays with availability of Sky Lanterns, People have started releasing lanterns.
In the past, krathongs were made from natural materials – usually a section from a banana tree trunk, crafted into a lotus shape by using folded banana leaves, and these can still be found for sale around the main festival sites. More recently, Thais have become more creative in their craft and design the krathongs from coconut shells, flowers, baked bread, potato slices, some breaking with the conventional lotus leaf shape in favour of turtles and other sea creatures.
As its name implies, on the evening of the festival, Thai people gather around rivers, lakes, and canals to release lotus-shaped baskets. Loi Krathong marks one of the most magnificent and unique Thai traditions of the year. It takes place in the evening of the full moon of the 12th month on the traditional Thai lunar calendar.
Many Thais float their Krathong (a floating basket made from a variety of natural materials such as banana leaf and flowers) down a river to pay respect to the Lord Buddha and seek forgiveness from the Goddess of Water for any misdeeds in the past year.
There is no equivalent word in English for Boita Bandana nor Loi Krathong. One may hear people referring to it as a small boat, vessel, receptacle or container. In the runup to the festival, many shops and market stalls typically display ready-made boita in Odisha while krathongs in Thailand.
One thing in common in between two culture is water bodies. In Bangkok they kept their water bodies from pollution, while most of the water bodies can’t be visible without pollution. The results on Boita Bandana day we remained busy searching water bodies to float boat and then we forget it until next year. Similarly unlike thai we Odias are yet make it a festival amongst our tourist. Perhaps it’s high time we safeguard our water bodies and make it part of our culture.
Well Boita Bandana may not visible beyond Odisha in India rather in Asia. What a Great Cultural Diversity two ancient civilization of Odia and Thai.
