Ancient Kalinga was exclusively an agricultural State. Absolutely, there were no remarkable industries of any kind other than cottage units and handlooms. Winter is the harvesting season of agricultural products.
The Sadhabas, who are a trading community of Kalinga, were sailing to island countries like Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Bali, which are now parts of Indonesia, with the agricultural products to sell them there and bring exotic items from those oceanic countries for commerce at home State.
In the peninsular islands, varieties of agricultural products were not available and hence, the merchandises from Kalinga were of great demand with the inhabitants there. Further, the Sadhabas were also trading lac and lac products from India within the oceanic countries in the Indian Ocean. The winter is the proper season of harvesting the lac which is procured from Kusuma trees. Once, the Indian traders were storing lacs and lac products in the south- western Islands of India, known as lakshadweep. The islands were named after lac. Now, the trade of lac and lac products has lost their important due to invention of plastic and synthetic products. The gramophones are now obsolete. The record players were made of lac to record and display voices.
Similarly, the islands used to produce a large variety of spices, which were brought to Kalinga. Besides spices, the Sadhabas were also bringing precious gems and stones to be used in jewelleries.
Basically, the trade was confined to winter season. The Sadhabas used to sail back home before the onset of summer, lest the force of wind grew stronger after February which might create problem in their sea voyage.
Kartika Purnami, which generally falls in the middle of November, is very auspicious day for the people of the State. From this day onwards, the Sadhabas used to start their trade journey from the bank of the Mahanadi, which is presently known as the Baliyatra ground.
Bali means Bali island or Balidweep and yatra means voyage. Hence, the Bali yatra means sea voyaga to the Balidweep. The maritime journey then used to commence close to the present Barabati fort. This ancient maritime glory is always rembered through festive practices like Bali yatra for one week from the date of Kartika Purnami by the people of Kalinga.
Similarly, the festival is also observed in Chandrabhaga, which is close to the Sun Temple of Konark. Once, river Chandrabhaga was flowing near Konark temple. And the Kalinga Sadhabas were transporting salt to different parts of India and the island countries within the Bay of Bengal. The salt was harvested from the sea- water of Rambha of Ganjam district, which is close to Puri and Konark.
The salt was carried from Ganjam border to Konark by bullock carts. Now, such practices of harvesting salt from seawater are also going on but the past transaction is not continuing any longer. While the salt produced in the State these days are not sufficient to meet the domestic market, thus ruling out the possibility of its export, most rivers which were used for navigation and bringing and sending merchandises are now silted with the result that they are no more navigable. Besides, maritime tradition of the State is now limited to festivities alone. In practice, nobody is interested to carry forward the age-old practice.
To memorise the maritime glory, the people are sailing paper boats, cork boats and pith boats in water bodies as a ceremonial practice. Now, Odias are very particular to observe the ritual with much enthusiasm. Again, Kartika Purnima is also known as Rasa Purnima .
Rasa Purnima is very much famous among the Hindu communities as the festivities include enjoying clear moonlit night irrespective of sex by forgetting the worldly ties to achieve the bliss of lord Krishna. Even, the Indians observe the Rasa Purnima and Kartika Purnima in the USA and other foreign countries with traditional fanfare. The Baliyatra Padia at Cuttack on the bank of the Mahanadi covers 37 acres, where a fair or Mela takes place, with congregation of thousands of stalls and lakhs of visitors.
Recently, the Government of India has decided to open a river — based port in the Mahanadi river. All the prominent rivers of Odisha and adjoining States can be connected to this port. As a result, the port can act as a national water way for better transportation of various products. If the project takes off, it will surely be a repetition of the long established Kalinga heritage and a tribute to the tradition.
The main river routes of the Mahanadi, the Bramhani, the Baitarani, the Subarnrekha and other subsidiary rivers of Odisha will awake to life with a heavy rush of transportation of goods. The opening of river routes can reduce the vehicular pollutions and also slash burden on traffic, besides reducing accidents.
The winter was once safe for sea voyages for the Kalinga Sadhabas for carrying out their trades, but at present the situations have changed. The islands are now more prone to natural calamities like cyclones. Climate changes have caused havoc for human beings.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)