Cuttack: Mumbai’s Odia community came together Friday morning to celebrate the traditional Boita Bandana Utsav, commemorating the ancient maritime legacy of Kalinga, at various locations across the city.
The Bombay Odia Women’s Association (BOWA) led the celebrations at Agroli Talab near Belapur, where members floated miniature boats with flowers, lamps, and incense sticks and chanted “Aka Mo Boi, Pana Gua Thoi”.
“We’re delighted by the tremendous turnout of nearly 200 community members,” said Kanika Tripathy, BOWA president. The celebration featured women dressed in traditional Sambalpuri sarees, adding a unified cultural touch to the festivities.
In a notable display of environmental consciousness, participants crafted eco-friendly boats using paper and banana leaves. “Since miniature boats aren’t available in Mumbai shops, we make our own using biodegradable materials,” said Swarnalata Harichandan, a Bombay Central resident, who participated in the celebrations at Dadar’s Arabian Sea waterfront. The festival also served as a cultural bridge for the younger generation. “My children were thrilled to participate in the boat-floating ceremony,” shared Manisha Panigrahi, a Kharghar resident.
The celebrations will culminate in a traditional feast, known as Chadakhai, Sunday in Kharghar, featuring both vegetarian and non-vegetarian Odia delicacies. The event, which drew the attention of Mumbaikars, highlighted the Odia diaspora’s commitment to preserving their cultural heritage while adapting to their adopted city’s cosmopolitan environment.