INSV Kaundinya set for Bali Yatra to recreate ancient India-SE Asia sea route

Pune: Traditional sailing vessel INSV Kaundinya has returned from a successful maiden voyage from Porbandar to Muscat and the crew is preparing for an ambitious new expedition that seeks to retrace one of India's most celebrated ancient maritime routes — the historic Bali Yatra.A senior officer from the Western Naval Command in Mumbai told TOI: "The voyage carries deep historical and cultural significance. The term Bali Yatra refers to a major annual festival celebrated in Odisha to commemorate the ancient maritime voyages undertaken by traders and sailors from the region to Southeast Asia."The celebration begins on Kartika Purnima, when people perform the ritual known as Boita Bandana. They float miniature boats in rivers and water bodies as a symbolic tribute to the seafarers who once sailed across the Bay of Bengal to places such as Bali, Java and Sumatra.Meanwhile, the expedition is expected to be one of the longest traditional sailing missions undertaken by the Indian Navy in recent times. According to sources, the voyage is likely to begin in Nov and reach Bali in Indonesia by Feb 2027. The return journey will begin around May 2027 and conclude by June 2027.Officials said the precise route is being finalised, as the mission will require detailed planning due to the scale and duration. "Since it is one of the longest routes, we will have to plan minutely — right from rationing to weather conditions. The crew is excited to explore the ancient route," a senior naval officer said.Historians link the maritime tradition to the legendary Indian mariner Kaundinya, after whom the vessel is named. Long before European explorers ventured into Southeast Asia, Kaundinya sailed from India to the Mekong delta, where he established political and cultural links that influenced the early history of the region. According to historical accounts, Kaundinya not only established trade networks, but married a local queen. Thus, he founded a lineage that became part of early Cambodian history.Sources said, "The crew will explore the route and pay tribute to the rich maritime legacy that established strong links between India and Southeast Asian countries. The cultural connections are still visible in many of these nations."INSV Kaundinya docked at the naval base in Karwar will undergo maintenance and repairs before the mission. The crew, trained extensively at the base, had earlier successfully completed the vessel's maiden voyage. Naval officers said the experience gained during the Porbandar-Muscat expedition will help the team prepare better for the longer and more challengingBali Yaatra."We are better prepared since we now have strong references from the maiden voyage. The crew is already trained and their morale is high, so it will be a confident journey," sources said.The expedition is expected to highlight India's ancient seafaring traditions, while reviving awareness about the country's historic maritime connections with Southeast Asia.