Odisha’s Maritime Calendar: The Heartbeat of Sadhaba Voyages

In ancient Kalinga, now Odisha, the Sadhabas were esteemed maritime traders who scheduled their journeys by the monsoons and favorable winds. The chant “Aa Ka Ma Boi”—with each syllable representing Ashadha, Kartika, Magha, and Baisakha—encapsulated their navigational calendar, charting not only trade routes but cycles of preparation, departure, and return.

• During ‘Aa’ - Ashadha (June–July), communities began building and repairing boats, provisioning supplies, and preparing for the upcoming journey.
• ‘Ka’ - Kartika (October–November) marked the sailing season, coinciding with the retreat of the monsoon and calm seas—explaining its sacred alignment with Boita Bandana and Kartika Purnima.
• In ‘Ma’ - Magha (January–February), Sadhabas continued their overseas trade, especially in the islands of Bali, Sumatra, and Java, as wind conditions remained ideal.
• With ‘Ba’ - Baisakha (April–May), it was time for the homeward voyage—just before the southwest monsoon set in, bringing traders back to Odisha’s shores loaded with wealth and stories.

This cyclical itinerary sustained a unique pattern, ensuring the traders sailed out after the monsoon and returned just before the next, completing a harmonious loop steered by seasonal winds and divine timing.

The Symbolism of Boita Bandana

The full verse “Aa Ka Ma Boi, Pana Gua Thoi” carries more than a calendar—it includes wishes for good fortune, with families placing pan (betel leaves) and gua (areca nuts) in the miniature boats. Each offering is a heartfelt prayer for safe returns as floating lamps light up waters, blending devotion with remembrance.

Kartika Purnima: A Living Maritime Legacy

Kartika Purnima’s moonlit dawn transforms Odisha, guiding rituals that honour both spiritual devotion and the region’s proud maritime history. The festival echoes the intrepid journeys of ancient Sadhabas, their prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath, and the hope that glowed with each lamp set afloat on the water. Today, Boita Bandana and Bali Yatra revive those bonds, with communities celebrating through floating boats, crafts, and stories of valiant mariners bound for distant archipelagos.

Global Connections and Enduring Traditions

Odisha’s maritime legacy is affirmed by archaeological finds—Roman coins, Chinese ceramics, and relics unearthed along the coast, all testifying to thriving ancient exchange with Southeast Asia, Persia, and the Roman world. Festivals in Bali, Thailand, and Cambodia trace their roots to this exchange, sustaining a kinship in rituals and symbolism.

Even as the old harbors fade into history, Kartika Purnima remains a vibrant celebration. Women, children, and men relive ancestral voyages with each boat, lamp, and chant, ensuring the wisdom of Odisha’s seafaring soul endures. The tides may change, but the hope, faith, and courage evident in each lamp-lit boat bind Odisha’s present to its illustrious maritime past.