Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha Pravati Parida recently visited the Odisha Pavilion at India Maritime Week 2025, where she witnessed a vibrant showcase of the state’s rich maritime history and cultural heritage.
The Deputy CM had the privilege of joining Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State Shantanu Thakur at the inauguration of Maritime Heritage Day during India Maritime Week 2025. During the event, the Deputy CM extended a warm invitation to the dignitaries and attendees to experience the vibrant Bali Yatra festival, a centuries-old celebration of Odisha’s ancient maritime trade, held annually in Cuttack.
Taking to her X account, she wrote: “I had the opportunity to participate in the Maritime Week 2025 held in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and express my views on ‘India’s Maritime Heritage’. The seafaring sons of our Odisha, or ancient Kalinga, did not merely transport goods via ships to places like present-day Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Bali, Thailand, and Myanmar in South Asia; they also carried with them the civilization and culture of India and Odisha. They successfully spread the teachings of Buddha and the Jagannath culture from the soil of Odisha to these regions.”
“Long before modern shipbuilding, the golden history of our ancestors’ maritime voyages is a matter of pride and glory for us. To commemorate this tradition, I invited all distinguished guests to visit Odisha during the Bali Yatra festival, held annually in the silver city of Cuttack beginning from Kartik Purnima”, her tweet further read.
Addressing the delegates at India Maritime Week 2025, Parida said, “As the tourism minister, I take immense pride in saying that Odisha’s maritime heritage is one of our greatest treasures, a bridge between heritage, culture, and tourism. Our government is taking focused steps to promote maritime heritage, tourism through development of heritage circuits, cruise linking Bhubaneswar, Puri, Chilika and Cuttack, conservation of port sites like Manikapatna and Pallur, upgradation of the Orissa Maritime Museum in Cuttack, promotion of Bali Yatra as a global cultural event that the strength of Odisha maritime museum. We are also working to promote cruise tourism, water sports and fisheries-based tourism, bringing livelihood opportunity to coastal communities while preserving their heritage.”
She continued: “We are also exploring coastal ecotourism, river cruise, and beach tourism along the Golden coastline from Talsari to Gopalpur to bring travellers closer to our natural and cultural beauty. Friends, our ancestors once ruled the waves. Today it is our responsibility to carry forward their spirit, not through conquest, but through culture, creativity, and sustainable tourism. Let us carry forward their legacy by making Odisha a global symbol of heritage, hospitality, and harmony.”
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development and Commerce & Transport Department, Government of Odisha, was also present during the visit.
The event showcased Odisha’s rich maritime heritage and its efforts to preserve and promote its cultural legacy.
