February 15, 2021
This is Part II of a three-part series. View Part I here. Among my happiest recollections of growing up in the eastern Indian state of Odisha was the purnima (full moon) of Kartika in the Hindu calendar (roughly October-November). On that day, our family would awake at dawn, walk to a river, lake, or pond, and launch small boats made of paper, banana tree bark, or lightweight cork material, with lamps or candles perched on top. This is how the people of Odisha (whose ancient name was Kalinga)...