Festivals of Odisha

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This article lists the traditional festivals and other cultural events in the Odisha region of India. Odisha celebrates 13 festivals in 12 months as the saying goes Bāra Māsare Tera Parba[1] (transl. Thirteen festivals in twelve months).

Major festivals

This section lists festivals which are celebrated throughout Odisha.

Autumn

Durga Puja

Main article:
Durga Puja in Odisha
A Durga idol in Cuttack with a tarakasi crown.

Navratri refers to the first nine days of the festival. The nine forms of Durga, Navadurga, are worshipped during these nine days. Navratri begins on the Prathama (first bright day) Paksha (lunar fortnight) of the Ashvin month. It also marks the end of the rainy season according to the traditional calendar. The asura, Mahishasura, was killed by Durga on the tenth day according to Hindu mythology. The final five days are considered especially important.[2]

The Durga Puja of

Kathajodi river.[3]

Kali Puja

holy river or any water body nearby.[5]

Kumar Purnima

Main article:
Kumar Purnima

Kumar Purnima (କୁମାର ପୂର୍ଣିମା) occurs on the first full moon day of the month of Ashvin. It is primarily celebrated by unmarried girls who pray for a handsome husband. According to the belief, the handsome god Kartikeya also known as Kumar was born on this day. Girls also play traditional games like puchi on this day and wear new clothes.[6]

Deepabali

Main article: Diwali

Deepabali (ଦୀପାବଳି) is celebrated on

Kartik Amavasya.[7]

The families remember their forefathers by burning jute stalks and call upon them for blessing with the Badabadua verse:[8]

Bada badua ho,
andhara re aasa,
alua re jaa.
Mahaprasad khai
Baaisi pahaacha re gada gadu thaa.

ବଡ଼ ବଡୁଆ ହୋ,
ଅନ୍ଧାରରେ ଆସ,
ଆଲୁଅରେ ଯାଅ,
ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ଖାଇ
ବାଇଶି ପାହାଚ ରେ ଗଡ଼ା ଗଡୁଥାଅ।

O forefathers,
come to us in this dark evening,
we light your way to heaven.
Having Mahaprasad,
May you attain salvation on the 22 steps of the

Jagannath temple of Puri.[7]

In some parts of the state, Kali Puja is also celebrated on the same day.[7]

Winter

Prathamastami

Main article: Prathamastami
Enduri Pitha
which is prepared on Prathamastami.

On

Margasira month.[10]

Spring

Vasant Panchami

See also: Vasant Panchami

Saraswati Puja (ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ପୂଜା). Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and wisdom in Hinduism. Traditionally, children get their letters on this day. Many educational institutions also observe the festival. It also marks the arrival of spring.[11][12]

Maha Shivaratri

See also: Maha Shivaratri
Lingaraja temple

jagarana and break their fast the next morning.[13]

Shivaratri is celebrated in major

ascetics as Shiva is considered an ascetic god. Ascetics may partake in drinks like Thandai on this day.[13]

Dola Purnima and Holi

Main article: Dol Jatra, Holi

It also known as

Dola Yatra (Odia: ଦୋଳ ଯାତ୍ରା, a five-day long Dola Purnima festival celebrated with pomp and fervor across the state. Followed by Dola Purnima comes Holi. On this day, the Odia calendar becomes ready and is offered to the deity Jagannath, who is also known as "Dolagovinda".[14]
The celebration is mostly celebrated in Villages where Idols of Krishna and Radha come to a common place.

Summer

Ratha Yatra

Main article: Ratha Yatra
Rath Yatra in Puri (2007)

Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra on giant chariot from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. The chariots are pulled by devotees with ropes. After nine days, the idols are returned. The 2014 festival in Puri was attended by 900000 people.[15][16]

Monsoon

Ganesh Chaturthi

See also: Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Visarjan, study activities are resumed.[17]

Regional festivals

This section lists festivals which are specific to a region.

Coastal Odisha

Raja Parba

Main article:
Raja Parba

Basu-mata, the Earth goddess. During this period, no agricultural activities occur to allow the goddess to rest. The first day is called pahila raja, the second day is proper raja and third day is called basi raja.(Bhuin Na a na/ ଭୂଇଁ ନଅଣ) All the agricultural weapons got Wash and worshipped this day. Girls play on various types of swings. People exchange pithas among relatives and friends. Raja is also called Mithuna Sankranti. In places it is celebrated for four days and is known as Basumata Puja.[18][19][20]

Bali Jatra/Kartika Purnima

Main article: Bali Jatra
The entrance to the 2012 Bali Jatra trade fair in Cuttack.

trade fair is also held in Cuttack.[22]

Central Odisha

Gajalaxmi Puja

The

Kumar Purnima.[23]

Western Odisha

Nuakhai

Main article: Nuakhai

Nuakhai (ନୂଆ ଖାଇ) is particularly celebrated in the Sambalpuri cultural region. It is celebrated to welcome the new paddy (ଧାନ) harvest. It falls on the day after Ganesh Chaturthi. In various regions, priests calculate the tithi and offer the new grains to the local goddesses at a precise auspicious moment. People on this occasional greet each other with the words "Nuakhai Juhar". At evening, folk dance and song events may be organized which are called "Nuakhai Bhetghat".[24]

Sitalasasthi

Main article: Sitalsasthi

Jyeshtha month. Various artists including eunuchs perform street performances during the festival.[26][27]

Dhanu Jatra

Dhanu Jatra

Main article:
Dhanu Jatra

Dhanu Jatra is a large-scale reenactment of the reign and death of the asura king Kansa which takes place annually in Bargarh. During the period of 1 to 11 January, the town of Bargarh is assumed to be the mythical city of Mathura. The neighboring settlements also take up names from the Mahabharata. The district collector and police superintendent also pretend to be employees of Kansa. The festival begins with the marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki. Ambapalli village is treated as Gopapur. During the festival, an actor pretending to be Kansa issues social messages which are contrary to mythical character.[28][29]

References

  1. ^ "Prathamastami that celebrates firstborns". The Pioneer. 9 December 2020.
  2. ^
    East Coast Railway. September 2013. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Durga Puja". Government of Odisha. Archived from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Kali in chains at Keonjhar shrine". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Silver City bids adieu to Goddess Kali". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Kumar Purnima" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Deepabali" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Thousands chant 'Bada Badua Ho' in Puri". The Pioneer (newspaper). 5 November 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Oriyas prefer 'Enduri Pitha' on 'Prathamashtami'". The Hindu. 30 November 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Prathamastami" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Vasant Panchami" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Odisha: Fairs and Festivals". Know India. Government of India. Archived from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Mahashiva Ratri" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Dola Purnima" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  15. ^ "Sea of humanity at Puri Rath Yatra". The Hindu. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  16. ^ "A glimpse of the Vamana, the dwarf or Lord Jagannath". Government of Odisha. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Ganesh Chaturthi" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Raja Sankranti". Odisha Tourism, Government of Odisha. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Rain likely to dampen Raja festival spirit". The Hindu. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Raja Sankranti : The Festival of Swings" (PDF). Government of Odisha. June 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Odisha celebrates glorious maritime past". The Hindu. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Lakhs turn up for Bali Yatra on opening day". The Hindu. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Dhenkanal gears up for Laxmi Puja". The Times of India. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  24. ^ "Nuakhai" (PDF). Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  25. ^ "Sambalpur in festive mood for Sital Sasthi". The New Indian Express. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Rituals start for divine marriage in Sambalpur". The Times of India. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  27. ^ "Eunuchs put up impressive show". The Times of India. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  28. ^ "Bargarh gears up for Dhanu Yatra". The Hindu. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Dhanu Yatra gets under way". The Hindu. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2014.

External links

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