Bhubaneswar/Kataka/Bengaluru: From Bali’s traditional lontar manuscripts to Odisha’s centuries-old palm-leaf manuscripts, this year’s Bali Yatra in Kataka will highlight the shared cultural heritage of ancient Kalinga and Bali, with heritage preservation and cultural exchange taking centre stage.
The eight-day festival, scheduled from November 24 to December 1, will feature exhibitions, cultural programmes and displays of traditional products celebrating the maritime legacy of ancient Kalinga.
One of the major attractions will be the ‘Kataka-in-Kataka’ pavilion, which will showcase cultural similarities between Bali and ancient Kalinga, including shared linguistic traditions, food habits, clothing styles and manuscript traditions. A special exhibition will bring together Bali’s traditional lontar manuscripts and Odisha’s rich palm-leaf manuscript heritage, highlighting the importance of preserving traditional forms of knowledge and documentation.
A digital information wall will also familiarise visitors with the historical and cultural connections between the two regions, reinforcing their centuries-old maritime links. A delegation from Bali is expected to visit the festival this year, adding an international dimension to the celebrations.
In a major step towards environmental sustainability, the state government has decided to make this year’s Bali Yatra a plastic-free event.
Around 500 stalls under the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) will showcase the state’s handloom and handicraft products, providing a platform for local artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs. Two dedicated stages will host cultural programmes during the festival.
From ancient voyages to a modern-day celebration
Bali Yatra, literally meaning ‘voyage to Bali’, commemorates the maritime traditions of ancient Kalinga, when Odia seafarers, popularly known as Sadhabas, undertook voyages to Southeast Asian destinations such as Bali, Java and Sumatra for trade and cultural exchange.
The seafarers traditionally sailed in large boats known as Boitas, using maritime routes across the Bay of Bengal. The festival recalls these voyages and Odisha’s contribution to India’s maritime history and its cultural links with other parts of the world.
The tradition of floating miniature boats on Kartika Purnima is an important part of the celebrations. Although there is no single recorded calendar year for the beginning of Bali Yatra, its origins are associated with centuries-old maritime practices and community traditions.
Odisha’s maritime history has been reconstructed through archaeological discoveries, excavations, inscriptions, coins and literary records. Its ports played an important role in trade with Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, including Africa and Rome.
However, several factors contributed to the decline of the ancient ports and port towns. These included attacks by neighbouring kingdoms, economic difficulties and natural processes such as tectonic movements, coastal sedimentation, shifting river courses, floods, cyclones and fluctuations in sea levels. The formation of sand dunes in navigational channels also affected maritime activities.
Further scientific surveys, archaeological explorations and excavations along Odisha’s coastline are considered essential to establish a more comprehensive picture of its maritime heritage.
Paradip’s Kalinga Bali Yatra from November 23
Apart from Kataka, Paradip also celebrates Odisha’s maritime legacy through its annual Kalinga Bali Yatra. This year’s seven-day festival will begin on November 23, with the duration potentially being extended if required.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is expected to inaugurate the celebrations. The organising committee is also planning to invite artistes from Ollywood and Bollywood to make the event more attractive for visitors.
The Paradip Kalinga Bali Yatra has a more recent recorded history. It was first organised in 1992 and inaugurated by then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on November 10 that year. He flagged off the naval yacht INSV Samudra as part of an initiative to recreate the ancient maritime connections between Odisha and Bali in Indonesia.
The festival has since developed into an important celebration of the state’s maritime history, providing an opportunity to connect younger generations with the legacy of Kalinga’s seafarers.
Bali Yatra travels beyond Odisha: First edition in Bengaluru’s Whitefield
The celebration of Odisha’s maritime heritage is also finding a new platform outside the state. In Bengaluru, the Odia Youth Association will host the first Bali Yatra in Whitefield, bringing the state’s traditional festival to the Odia community and other residents of the city.
The initiative seeks to take the cultural legacy of ancient Kalinga beyond Odisha and introduce people in Bengaluru to the history of the Sadhabas, their maritime voyages and the centuries-old connections between Odisha and Southeast Asia.
The event will also provide an opportunity for the Odia diaspora to celebrate its cultural identity and pass on traditional customs and heritage to younger generations living outside the state.
The Bengaluru celebration reflects the growing efforts of Odia communities in different parts of the country to preserve and promote their cultural traditions.
With Kataka’s focus on manuscript preservation and cultural exchange, Paradip’s celebration of maritime history and the first Bali Yatra in Bengaluru’s Whitefield, the 2026 festivities will extend the legacy of ancient Kalinga to a wider audience.