Editorial photo #12951259 Human Interest
'Boita Bandana'' Festival Celebration In Kolkata, India
Hindu people hold up small decorated boats made with a banana stem as people gather to take a holy dip in the river Ganges on the occasion of Kartik Purnima in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Every year, people in Odisha celebrate the traditional maritime and naval festival, 'Boita Bandana,' also known as 'Danga Bhasa.' On the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik, the air is filled with the spirit of Boita Bandana, celebrated by setting afloat miniature boats to mark the day. This historical event is commemorated by the symbolic act of floating miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, and colored cloth in water bodies like rivers, ponds, and the sea. The ritual pays homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who venture into the sea for trade. (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto)
