Kartik Purnima 2024: In Hindu religion, every fast and festival has cultural significance. Kartik Purnima will be worshiped here on the coming day and taking bath on this day has a different significance. Kartik Purnima is different in every state and is known by some name or the other.

Here in Odisha, Kartik Purnima is known as 'Boita Bandan Utsav' in which this tradition is performed every year. On the day of this special festival, along with taking bath in the morning, people also float the boat in the nearby sea, river or pond. It has a different importance.

This puja is also called boat puja.

Boats have special significance in this 'Boita Bandan Utsav' of Odisha. The boats are decorated with flowers, betel nuts, betel leaves and lamps. The tradition is said to have originated in, this ritual is performed to pay homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who ventured into the sea to trade.

It is said that the traders of Odisha used to travel on Boitas to trade with countries like Java, Sumatra, Bali and Indonesia, adding that this festival originated from this. This 'Boita Bandan Utsav' aims to inspire the present generation to connect with and respect the maritime heritage.

Know the meaning of this festival from Kartik Purnima

Here this festival is considered to be to Kartik Purnima. Here, it is said, voyages were carried out by merchant sailors in ships called boitas, during which they would set out for months at a time to trade with people in remote areas across the ocean in Southeast Asia. During this period, the journey is considered to start from Kartik Purnima which is auspicious.

On this day, women from the families of sailors going to another country for business consider the date of Kartik Purnima as auspicious and wish for a safe journey. For this reason, the tradition of 'Boita Bandan Utsav' (worship of boats) has been going on for centuries, connecting Boitas with the country.