Samudramanthan: Maritime Conference In Cuttack To Coincide With Bali Yatra

Cuttack: A three-day national Dhara event called ‘Samudramanthan’ will be held here from November 8 to focus on India’s glorious ancient maritime traditions, its present situation and future possibilities and challenges.

The conference, coinciding with the historic Bali Yatra festival, is being organised by Indian Knowledge Systems Division of Ministry of Education in association with Ministry of Culture and Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar.

It was announced at a press meet on Monday that the inauguration ceremony of the conference, to be held at SOA auditorium on Tuesday, will feature launching of a Stitched Boat Project by Ministry of Culture along with Ministry of Defence, particularly the Indian Navy, as part of the ongoing ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.

The press meet was addressed by Dr Anuradha Choudry, Coordinator-Outreach, Indian Knowledge System Division, Ministry of Education; Prof. Nachieketa Sharma, Director, University Outreach Program, SOA; and Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare), SOA.

SOA runs a centre dedicated to work for preservation, propagation and restoration of the country’s rich heritage and culture — known as SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN).

The conference, to be accompanied by cultural activities relating to the theme, is being held under the aegis of ‘Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge System’ and as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ alongside Bali Yatra festival organised by Odisha government.

Renowned experts in the field, including academicians, scholars and researchers, will attend the conference which is aimed to create a vision document for maritime traditions-2047 and revive public memory about Odisha’s glorious maritime glory.

There will be round-table and panel discussions on maritime history, locations, ship building, navigation, trade and cultural exchange, education and skill development in maritime studies, maritime security and international law and reconnecting with maritime traditions through museums.

The Bali Yatra, an annual event held on the edge of Mahanadi river in Cuttack, celebrates the journey of ancient mariners from Odisha coast to Bali island in Indonesia.