On Tuesday, the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima, the ancient Bali Yatra honouring the prosperous maritime trade of Odisha began in the Millennium City of Cuttack.
Both Odisha and Indonesia are eager to advance marine trade, civilisation, economic progress, and cultural ties on the eve of the historic Bali Yatra 2022 as the week-long event is devoted to the centuries-old maritime trade links between India and (Bali) Indonesia.
Hanafi, the cultural adviser at the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, travelled by plane to Cuttack this year to take part in the eight-day Bali Yatra festival.
He visited the Odisha State Maritime Museum this morning and expressed his joy there. He also gave some gifts as a token of his appreciation and fraternal ties.
He expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government, the Kalinga International Youth Foundation, and the State government for working together to make Bali Yatra a celebrated event around the globe.
Speaking to media, Hanafi said, “There are many purposes for my visit actually. First, today is the first day of Bali Yatra, so we will be there. Moreover, we are handing over a few items for display at the maritime museum, particularly for the Indonesian gallery.”
“I feel extremely elated that the ties between Odisha and Indonesia are growing strong. I visited the maritime museum and was very happy to see all the age-old items of Indonesia being preserved here. We also have preserved several items of Odisha in our museum in Indonesia,” he stated.
On the other hand, the president of the Kalinga International Youth Foundation, Bibhu Prasad Swain, stated that the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, the governments of Indonesia and Bali, the Odisha State Maritime Museum, and the state of Odisha were all instrumental in the beginning of this initiative. All of them remain steadfastly committed to reviving the maritime commerce. Odisha is very beloved and cherished in Indonesia. In particular, they provide significant contributions to the marine museum and will keep doing so in the future.
It’s important to note that Bali Yatra is a replica of the yearly occasion in ancient India when traders would set ship for towns in Southeast Asia. The traders would then establish themselves at the port cities of Java or Sumatra to conduct business before sailing back to India on the brisk monsoon winds.
Prasanta Patnaik