**Paradeep:** Port Day was celebrated by the Paradip Port authorities here on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima that also marks the day as the festive Boita Bandana across Odisha.
Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, Paradip Port hoisted the flag to kick start the celebration.
Employees of the Port dressed themselves as Sadhabas (wealthy merchants of ancient Kalinga) and their family members donned the get-up of Sadhaba bahus (housewives of the merchants) to recreate the aura of that time.
The Paradip Port chief on the occasion said, “On this day the Sadhabas started their sea voyages to Bali, Sumatra, Java, Indonesia, Cambodia, Japan, China and Sri Lanka for trade. Kalinga was a mighty and wealthy state at that time. Paradip Port celebrates Boita Bandna to recreate that age-old tradition.”
Recalling the glorious maritime tradition of ancient Odisha, Boita Bandana is celebrated to mark the age-old practice of sea voyage by the Sadhabas, who sailed for trade to the far-flung eastern Islands of Singhal, Java, Sumatra and Bali.
Boita Bandana also marks the conclusion of all religious activities of Kartika in Odisha, which is considered as the holiest month by the Hindus. People float boats made up of banana peels, thermocol or paper with a clay lamp or wig lit in it.
Prakash Tripathy, a Paradip Port employee said, “Today is the auspicious day of Boita Bandana and we’re here to celebrate the old ritual. I feel proud to be a part of it.”
Shanti Chatterjee said, “I’ve participated for the first time in this festival and I really liked it. I’m from West Bengal and I’ve learnt a lot about this culture and the rituals related to it.”