Sri Vijaya Puram, November 14: An Indian Navy sailing vessel has embarked on a 1,600-nautical-mile expedition from Goa to Sri Vijaya Puram, bringing attention to India’s ancient maritime connections with Southeast Asia and the seafaring traditions of Kalinga, present-day Odisha. The 40-foot ocean-going vessel, INSV Hariyal, set sail on November 13 as part of an expedition commemorating the historic voyages undertaken by Kalinga’s maritime traders across the Bay of Bengal during Kartik Purnima.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) said the voyage seeks to recall India’s centuries-old maritime links with Southeast Asia and the traditional use of seasonal monsoon winds for long-distance navigation.
Beyond commemorating this heritage, the expedition will provide opportunities to strengthen seamanship and professional skills, assess the endurance and resilience of personnel, and promote camaraderie. The Command also said the initiative aims to encourage sailing as a sport and cultivate a culture of adventure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The voyage draws on the history of the Sadhabas, maritime traders from Kalinga who, more than 2,500 years ago, sailed across the Bay of Bengal in large wooden vessels known as boitas. They carried spices, textiles, ivory and precious stones to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian destinations, including Bali, Java and Sumatra.
Their journeys followed seasonal wind patterns. The mariners traditionally began their voyages after the southwest monsoon subsided, choosing the full moon of Kartik Purnima for departure and relying on the northeast monsoon for their return.
Odisha continues to commemorate this maritime history through Boita Bandana, also known as Danga Bhasa. During the observance, people gather at rivers, ponds and coastal stretches at dawn to float miniature boats made from paper, banana bark or cork. Decorated with betel leaves, betel nuts, flowers and earthen lamps, these boats symbolise the region’s historic seafaring connections.
The tradition also finds expression in Bali Jatra, a major annual open-air fair organised at Gadagadia Ghat on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Cuttack.
Named after Maharashtra’s state bird, the yellow-footed green pigeon, INSV Hariyal is one of six ocean-going sailing yachts operated by the Indian Navy. The other vessels are INSV Mhadei, Tarini, Bulbul, Kadalpura and Neelkanth.
The Navy deploys these vessels for adventure expeditions, coastal awareness campaigns and training personnel in navigation, seamanship and communication.
INSV Hariyal has previously undertaken several operational and training deployments. In 2020, it participated in the Maha-Navy Connect coastal awareness voyage covering ports along Maharashtra’s coastline. In 2022, it joined four sister vessels for an overseas training deployment to Trincomalee Port in Sri Lanka.
The vessel also represented the Eastern Naval Command and the Andaman and Nicobar Command at the 2024 Inter-Command Ocean Sailing Race held in Goa.
