Boita

Boitas were ships that were built in ancient Orissa in India during the heyday of the Kalinga empire. Ancient Oriya navigators, called Sadhabas used such ships to travel to distant lands such as Bali, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo, in Indonesia, and to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Persia, China, Africa and Greece for mercantile trade and cultural expansion. The word Boita is probably derived from Sanskrit "Vahitra", meaning a ship or vessel.

As they were propelled by the wind, these ships were incorporated with large cloth sails. However they also were equipped with oars. There were several ancient ports in Orissa, such as Tamralipti, Palur, Chelitalo, Chilka, Kakatpur, Balipatna, and Birudipatna, which served as docks for Oriya Boitas as well as foreign cargo vessels.

Miniature Boitas are used today as children's toys during the Oriya festival of Bali Jatra. A sculpture depicting a Boita exists at the Borobudur temple in Indonesia.

ee also

* Bali Jatra
* Sadhaba

References

* [http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/orissaannualreference/ORA-2005/pdf/maritime_traditions_of_orissa.pdf Maritime Traditions of Orissa]
* [http://www.oriyamusic.com/Celebration/Boita/ Boita Bandana]