President Droupadi Murmu To Attend ‘Boita Bandana’ As Chief Guest In Odisha’s Paradip

Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu will attend the “Boita Bandana” (boat festival) at Paradip in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on November 27.

A release of the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that the President will participate in celebration of the “Boita Bandan” function as the chief guest. She will be present at the function from 10 am to 12.30 pm.

The Paradip Port Authority will organise the ‘Boita Bandan’ function in the port town of the state.

Boita Bandan marks the maritime glory of erstwhile Kalinga, when Sadhabas (Odia mariners) sailed to distant lands of Bali, Java, Sumatra, Borneo (all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka for trade and cultural expansion and women of the community gave them a hearty send off.

On the day of Kartika Purnima, the full moon day of the holy month of Kartika, Boita Bandana is celebrated with much fanfare across Odisha. It marks the end of the month-long ‘Habisha’ during Kartik and five-day ‘Panchuka’.