Orissa observes a large number of festivals mostly associated with harvesting seasons, religion and temples. Orissa is a confluence of the Aryan, Dravidian and aboriginal cultures, thus celebration bring forth a grand collage of different rituals and traditions. There is no better evidence for this religion-spiritual yearning in its popular form than a fair or festival virtually every month in different parts of Orissa. The car festivals, yatras, melas, pujas and bratas or Oshas ( fasting ) involve mass participation, spread throughout the year. Many other festivals introduced by the department of Tourism and culture show case the rich heritage, art and culture of the State. Most of these held on a full moon or dark moon days confirm the common belief that planets and stars are forces influencing human life. Some of the major fairs and festivals are :
- Makar Sankranti / Mela
- Magha Sptami
- Dola Purnima
- Chaitra Parba
- Ashokastami
- Sitalasasthi
- Rath Yatra / Car Festival
- Raja Parba
- Durga Puja
- Bali Yatra
- Dhanu Yatra
- Mahasivaratri
- Tara Tarini Mela
- Konark Beach Festivals
- Ekamra Utsav
- Shreekshetra Utsav
- The Kaling Mohotsav
- Raja Rani Music Festivals
- District-wise Cultural Festivals
- Puri Beach Festivals
- Chhow Tribal Festival
- Folk Dance Festivals
Makar Sankranti / Mela :
This Makar Sankranti or Mela come in the Mid of January in every year. This festival also famous for Pandu ( telugu people says ) festival in Andhra Pradesh. In Makar Sankranti, the sun God is worshiped with great enthusiasm and fervour all over the state as well as neighbour state ( Andhra Pradesh ). It is coincides with the end of harvest season and when the sun enters the orbit Capricorn. The biggest Chilika salt lake of India is the focus of attention where pilgrims from all over the state congregate to leave food offerings in a cave for the goddess Kalijai.
Magha Saptmi Festival :
This Magha saptmi occasion falls on the 7th day of Magha Month, in which thousands of pilgrims comes from all over the state to take a holi dip in the Chandrabhaga beach near Konark ( World Famous Heritage Sun Temple of India ). Prayers are held to the rising sun which is believed to cure skin ailments. Khandagiri, near Bhubaneswar Town is also observe the week long grand Magha Saptmi fair.
Dola Purnima :
Dola Purnima is the festival of Colours, popularly famous all over India as the Holi Festival, 5 days long festival in the rural area of Orissa. It starts on Phalgun Poornima day, marking the beginning of the spring season. The Idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha in decorated in Vimana ( small wooden temple ) are carried on shoulders from house to house to the chants of devotional hymns. The festivities culminate a day after poornima when people throw colour water and powder on each other. Cattles are bathed, anointed with vermilion, garlanded and fed sumptuously on this occasion.
Chaitra Parba :
This Chaitra Parba or Festival commencing every year in Mid of April. This two days popular folk festival is observed all over the Orissa. The Tribal or Adivasis people particularly the santal of the Mayurbhanj district performs Chhow, a war dance; for three days. The rural fisherman community holds the famous ghoda ( horse ) dance, moving to the beating of drums in elaborate costumes in processions through the streets. The southern parts of Orissa particularly in Ganjam and Gajapati District celebrates the Chaitra Parba festival as Dandayatra, a dance performed by a group of 13 persons, led by their leader ( Pata Bhokta ) holding a danda ( Stick ). The Ritual is evoked to seek the boon of Lord Shiva, especially for a child. Every part of the Ganjam district observed the festival with joy and great enthusiasm, specially in the Township of Berhampur (Orissa). This Chaitra parba also celebrated in the tribal districts of Orissa like Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nawarangapur, Kalahandi, and more districts. The tribal peoples of the areas celebrated this festivals with traditional culture like new harvest rice, Mango and other foods eating. The tribal men of the villages go to the forest for Sikara ( Hunting animals) and tribal women are preparing the foods and waiting for the men to welcome them. The women also visit near by villages or towns to give the traditional Prasad (sweets of gods). Throughout the night tribal peoples celebrate the cultural dance and music. In the costal region people celebrated the Jhamuyatra, the devotees perform penance in the honour of "Shakti" by walking on the fire or a bed of thorns.
Ashokastami :
This Ashokastami is celebrated on the 8th day of Chaitra Month. Specially this festival is observed Lord Lingaraj Temple, in the Capital city of Orissa i.e. Bhubaneswar. Ashokastami is the car festival of Lord Shiva in the Heritage Lingaraj Temple, the daity is taken out in a chariot from the main temple to Rameswar temple and return after a 4 day stay. In this festive time there are lot of cultural programs are performed in the city of Bhubaneswar.
Sitalasasthi :
This festival comes in the month of May or June every year. Devotees gather to perform the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, a ritual celebrated with Pump and grandeur in every part of Orissa Specially in Sambalpur District and Bhubaneswar. A "Barat" ( marriage procession ) is taken out on the fifth night of the bright half of Jyestha to unite the two deities.
Rath Yatra or Car Festival of Puri :
The rich and vibrant culture of the state is best illustrated in the unique festival i.e Rathyatra or Car Festival of Puri. The biggest and grandest of all festivals, comes in the month of June and July every Year. From all over the globe devotees come to see the grand festival of Puri. The highlights is the journey of images of Lord Jagganath of Puri with elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra come out from the main temple and visit to the Gundicha temple. Peoples believes that in this car festival lord Jagannath come out to see their problems. In Gundicha temple Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Sister Subhadra stay for nine days and then returns to the main Jagannath temple. The mammoth wooden chariots carrying the three deities pulled by thousands of devotees present a spectacular scene. Lots of cultural programs are performed in this festivals. The king of Puri wash the street and the car or Rath, so that the Lord will take their throne. In this car festival Lord Balabhadra ( Elder brother ) car will pull first and then the Sister Shubhadra car and last the Lord Jagannath Car. To the Subhadra Car the women devotees would pull. The yatra begins on the second day of the lunar month (asadha). This is one of the famous and popular festival of Orissa.
Raja Parba :
This typically agrarian festival marks the beginning of the monsoon in the state of Orissa. Young girls especially in coastal plains dressed up as new brides in best clothes, jewellery and accessories can be seen eating pithas ( traditional cake ), chewing special paan ( betal) and riding the swings and sing raja songs. This Raja festival is observed for three days. Women/ girls sing songs and men/boys playing cards in these festivals. In this festival, produces are waiting for release their new movies in the film industry market of Orissa.
Durga Puja or Dussehra Festival :
Durga Puja is one of the most famous festival which is celebrated in the state with great enthusiasm and joy. The annual 10 days festival comes in the month of September or October every year. The tradition of worshipping goddess Durga alive with vigour and devotion. Huge pandals are set-up housing the idol of goddess Durga. The day after Dussehra festival marks the end of the festivals. Goddess Durga kills the Mahisasur Rakshyasa and save gods from the frequent attacks on Swarga ( mythological points where Gods are staying ). This Durga puja is celebrated specially in the Cuttack district. This Durga Puja is famous all over India and specially in West Bengal state celebrated with joy and great enthusiasm. After the Dussehra festival, the deities being carried in splendid processions with attractive backdrops and the huge flags of different hues and frenzied processionistsdancing to the beat of drums and music are a treat to watch. After bidding adieu to Durga Dashmi the city get ready to welcome Lakshmi Puja and colourful pandals are constructed to attracts both devotees and travelers.
Bali Yatra :
The successive kingdoms in Orissa had rich maritime trade with links to Bali, Java and Sumatra, with which came the cultural influences; reflected in the art of Ikat weaving and silver filigree work of Cuttack. To commemorate these old time links, a festival called Bali Yatra ( Fair ) is held on the banks of the river Mahanadi in Cuttack during the full moon of Kartik ( November/ December ). It is treat to witness tiny boats made of banana bark and lit with clay lamps floating in the river Mahanadi.
Dhanu Yatra / Festival :
The Bargarh Town in the Western Orissa comes alive during this colourful festival. Dhanu Yatra relates to the Mythological episode of Lard Krishna's visit to Mathura to witness the "BOW" ceremony organized by King Kansa( the uncle of Lord Krishna ) . The town becomes Mathura, the river Jira becomes Yamuna and the village Amapali across Jira represents Gopa. Thousands of assemble daily for 7-10 days festivals of Dhanu yatra to watch artists performing different acts inspired from puranic descriptions with great reverence.
Mahasivaratri or Maha Shiva Ratri :
Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivaratri (Night of Shiva or "Great Night of Lord Shiva") is a festival celebrated every year throughout the Orissa as well as entire India on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha or Phalguna in the Hindu Calendar. The Mahasivaratri festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting(bratas) and an all night long vigil. Cannabis is traditionally used as an offering for Lord Shiva and his followers. Per scriptural and discipleship traditions, the penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach the goal more swiftly and avoid rebirth.
Tara Tarini Mela or Festival :
This festival is mostly come in the month of March- April in every year. People celebrated this festival with joys and happiness. Tara Tarini Pitha or temple is located, 30 k.ms from Berhampur Town in Ganjam District. The Durga Puja symbolizing victory of Good or evil, people visit the famous puja mandaps at Cuttack and the 10th day is celebrated as Dushera.
Konark Beach Festivals :
This Konark Beach festival is observed Every 1 to 5 December of every year. The crowing glory of the temple architecture of Orissa the Sun Temple at Konark ( Black Pagoda ) plays host to the annual dance festival featuring Odissi and other traditional dance forms. The open air stage against the back drop of the floodlit temple reverberates with the beats of classical ragas and thalas to transport the audience in sheer ecstasy. The accompanying divine music and the breathtaking movements off the performers turn the event a truly out of this world spectacle. It appears as if the entire monument has come alive again. Besides this lavish feast for the eyes and ears, the festival involves display of traditional art and crafts making the glorious traditions of Orissa and an exhibition of exotic sand art.
The Ekammra Utsav or Mela or Fair :
A lively downtown 15 days festival at Bhubaneswar in early January, the Ekamra Utsav or Fair is a life time experience for the vacationers. The major highlights of the festivities is Mukteswar Dance Festival held on the courtyards of this famed temple where the eminent exponents of world famous Odissi dance enliven the stage with their magical performances of famous odissi dancers. Besides the dance performances, the visitors to Ekamra Utsav are treated to an expo of traditional arts and crafts, a flower show, a multicultural food court, a heritage walk and the attractive discounts offered by the leading shopping centre's to the tourist complement the festival mood. A Half Marathon Race Organized. This is the biggest ever in the state, traversing through important intersections of the city will add spice to this year's Utsav or Mela or Festival.
Shreeekshetra Utsav :
This festival is also known as the Puri Festival. Puri ( One of the holy chardham destination of Hindu Religion ) represents the rich traditional and culture of its people manifested in its various festivals celebrated throughout the year. The two weeks long extravaganza of arts and culture can be seen in Shreekshetra Festival is and authentic showcase of everything that's Orissa, offering handloom, cuisine, dance, music and its famed sand art.
The Kalinga Mahotsav or Festival :
This festival is observed every February month of the year. A grand festival of Martial Dance at Dhauli ( Famous Buddhist Pilgrimage Center ) this festival commemorates the victory of peace over the war where renowned dancers perform harmonizing the vigour of martial arts with sublime dance forms with their swords, spears and shields. This annual thrilling display of dances and music takes place at the foothill of the famous peace pagoda at Dhauli, Where Emperor Ashoka is believed to have fought the last battle before his metamorphosis into an apostle of nonviolence and peace.
Rajarani Music Festival ( February/March ) :
Against the backdrop of the Rajarani Temple of Bhubaneswar the musical evenings of this festival are resplendent with performances by eminent instrumentalists and vocalists of India. This festival showcase of the glorious tradition of Indian classical Music.
The other special festivals includes the parab festival, Mundei Festival of Nawarangpur and Vedavyas Sangeet Nrutiya Utsav celebrated in every corner of Orissa or Odisha.
Tribal Festivals of Orissa :
The state of Orissa is famous for ancient tribal people. There were numbers of Tribal tribes found in various port of Orissa. The tribal people of Orissa also observed various types of traditional and cultural festivals. The festivals of tribal's constitute a integral part of their social life and relate to their strong beliefs in the power of supernatural elements and community togetherness. Their traditions can best be captured at these fairs and festivals. Most festivals are occasions that mark the change of season relating to harvest of crops commemorating a local deity. Some of the larger and popular celebrations include a week long tribal fair at Bhubaneswar ( starts 26 January of Every year ), the Chhow Festival of Baripada Town ( April ), the Folk Dance festival ( January ) at Sambalpur town, the tribal festival (Parab Festival of Koraput, Parab Festival of Malkangiri, Parab Festival of Rayagada, Parab Festival of Nawarangpur, Parab Festival of Pantangi) are some of the famous tribal festivals celebrated in Odisha or the state of Orissa.
Innumerable folk traditions and spirits are manifested by way of observing vratas and oshas ( fasting ) by Hindu of Orissa. The observance is believed to resist the materialistic aspects of human life, augment belief in religion, brings welfare, prosperity and long life to the near and dear ones, recovery from ailments, beget a good match, and may be a bumper harvest. Most of these observations are marked by a spirit of sanctity, worship and painting walls and floors with rice paste.
The hotels of Orissa and Restaurant Association of Orissa organizes and extravaganza at the beautiful beach of Puri, the Puri Beach Festival in November. The events range from exhibition of handloom, rich cultural programmes and food festivals.
Come and celebrate some of the traditional, cultural festivals of Orissa with the people of Orissa. The will give you a lifetime experience for ever.
