Bali Jatra 2025 brings Odisha’s ancient maritime festival to the UK Parliament, celebrating heritage, trade, and sustainability on a global stage
OdishaPlus Bureau
Bali Jatra, Odisha’s ancient maritime festival, is all set to chart new waters this November as it makes a historic debut in the British Parliament. For the first time, this centuries-old celebration of Odisha’s seafaring heritage will be inaugurated at the House of Lords on 14 November 2025, marking an unprecedented moment in cultural diplomacy. The two-day event, themed “Ancient Maritime Glory to Sustainable Futures,” will bring together international leaders, scholars, business visionaries, and cultural influencers in a dialogue that connects the maritime past of Kalinga with the global challenges and opportunities of the future.
The celebrations will continue the following day with an international trade fair and cultural gala in Croydon, transforming London into a stage for Odisha’s living maritime legacy. The event underscores the enduring spirit of the ancient Sadhabas — the intrepid seafarers who once sailed from the ports of Kalinga across the Indian Ocean in majestic Boitas, establishing trade and cultural links with Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand as early as 400 BCE. These voyages carried not only goods but also ideas, values, and traditions, making Odisha one of the earliest centers of cross-cultural diplomacy in Asia.
Today, Cuttack’s Bali Jatra festival keeps this maritime memory alive every Kartika Purnima, when thousands gather on the banks of the Mahanadi to float miniature boats as symbolic offerings to the sea. That ritual — simple yet profound — connects the Odia people with their ancestors’ spirit of adventure, enterprise, and coexistence. With its arrival at the British Parliament, this timeless celebration steps onto the global stage, reaffirming Odisha’s place in the shared history of the world’s oceans.
Dr. Bibhuti Bhusan Pattnayak, FRSA and Organising Secretary of the Odisha Society of the United Kingdom (CIC), believes this milestone represents far more than a ceremonial tribute. “This landmark event ensures that Odisha’s maritime legacy and cultural pride will take their rightful place in the global conversation,” he said. The initiative has been powered by Xpertnest, a global technology and sustainability company founded by British-Odia entrepreneur and philanthropist Arun Kar, whose deep passion for his home state has driven many such visionary undertakings.
Spokesperson Sweta Mohanty emphasized the alignment between the event’s vision and India’s global outlook, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often spoken about the country’s ancient maritime bonds. “By launching Bali Jatra UK 2025 in London,” she said, “we aim to create not just a celebration but a forum for dialogue — on ancient trade, civilisational heritage, and their relevance to contemporary sustainability.”
The festival’s modern avatar extends well beyond nostalgia. Its organizers envision Bali Jatra as a platform for addressing present-day concerns such as climate action, heritage conservation, and South-South cooperation. By framing the discussions around the theme “Ancient Maritime Glory to Sustainable Futures,” they seek to underscore the continuing significance of the Global South — home to most of the world’s population and immense cultural and economic potential — in shaping a more sustainable and equitable world order.
Bali Jatra’s symbolism has evolved to encompass more than trade and travel; it now stands as a metaphor for interconnectedness. The age-old routes once traversed by Kalingan sailors were also corridors of cultural exchange, transmitting languages, beliefs, and art forms across shores. The festival celebrates this shared journey — a reminder that heritage can serve as both anchor and compass in navigating the challenges of the modern age.
The organisers further highlight that Bali Jatra has already been inscribed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, a recognition of its unique role in India’s cultural landscape. The Government of Odisha is also actively pursuing UNESCO recognition for the festival, positioning it as a heritage of global importance. The London event is thus not merely symbolic but part of a larger strategy to project Odisha’s cultural identity on the international stage.
Bali Jatra UK 2025 is being organized by the Odisha Society of the United Kingdom (OSUK CIC), with Dr. Pattnayak and Partha Sarathi Panda as organising secretaries and Sweta Mohanty as spokesperson. The initiative is supported by an extensive committee of Odia professionals and cultural enthusiasts including Dipti Mohanty, Salil Kumar Das, Dr. Prakash Kumar Dey, Pravat Mishra, Srikanta Kumar Padhi, and Susmita Rajhansha, among others. Their collaborative efforts have transformed the dream of taking Bali Jatra abroad into a tangible reality.
The program will unfold in two distinct yet interconnected parts. On 14 November, the opening day at the House of Lords will feature keynote addresses by invited dignitaries from India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Nigeria. A series of high-level panel discussions on maritime history, heritage diplomacy, and sustainable futures will follow, culminating in an awards ceremony recognizing excellence in heritage preservation and sustainability.
The second day, to be held in Croydon, will bring together international business leaders, artisans, and cultural troupes. The trade fair will feature global business pavilions, exhibitions, and an Odia food festival that celebrates the state’s diverse culinary traditions. The evening cultural gala will showcase traditional Odissi dance, folk music, and fashion rooted in Odisha’s textile heritage, bringing to life the aesthetic soul of the land.
The Global South Maritime Heritage Summit that anchors Bali Jatra UK seeks to redefine maritime heritage as a bridge between history, trade, and sustainability. It aims to position Odisha as a thought leader in this emerging global dialogue — demonstrating how traditional knowledge systems, cultural continuity, and community values can guide modern development.
For India, the summit reaffirms its role as a maritime civilization and a leader of the Global South, promoting sustainable economic growth through cooperation and innovation. For Odisha, it marks a proud and transformative moment — a chance to present its timeless maritime tradition to the world, while unlocking new avenues for tourism, investment, and cultural diplomacy.
More importantly, Bali Jatra UK 2025 aspires to be inclusive. Its organizers envision it not as a diaspora event but as a celebration of shared humanity — inviting participation from diverse communities across the UK and beyond. It stands as a powerful reminder that the journeys once begun from the shores of Cuttack centuries ago continue today, not through ships and sails, but through ideas, collaboration, and cultural dialogue.
In taking Bali Jatra to London, Odisha reclaims its ancient identity as a land of voyagers and visionaries, proving that heritage, when celebrated with purpose, can steer the world toward a more connected and sustainable future.