Need to connect spirituality with Cuttack Bali Jatra: Indra Udayan

Bhubaneswar: Bali Jatra that commemorates the rich maritime history of Odisha and its ancient trade affairs with other southeast Asian countries including Indonesia should be linked with spirituality, opined eminent social worker Padma Shri Agus Indra Udayan.

Attending a cultural exchange programme at Sambad Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, Indra Udayan, who is popularly known as Gandhi of Indonesia, said Indonesia’s relationship with Odisha is not limited to trade only. It is more than that.

“The two countries share cultural and spiritual bonds. Here you have Jagannath Temple in Puri. The Lord is worshipped in every village in Indonesia. There is similarity between Odissi dance and Bali’s traditional dance. The famous Bali Jatra in Cuttack has turned into a commercial fair gradually. But this has to be elevated by combining spirituality and ancient culture of Odisha and Bali island,” Udayan said during his short trip to Odisha yesterday.

During the programme, he also spoke about Naba Ganga (9 holy rivers including Mahanadi River) of India.

He said that Mahanadi River has a rich history and he is planning a ‘Mahanadi Alati’ programme to glorify the Mahanadi during the Bali Jatra in Cuttack city.

“Arrangements are being made for special priests to visit Odisha from Indonesia to perform the ceremony as per tradition of Indonesia during Bali Jatra in Cuttack,” he said.

For this purpose, Udayan is likely to visit Odisha in April and meet Governor and Chief Minister of the state to place his proposal before them.