This article lists the traditional festivals and other cultural events in theOdisha region of India. Odisha celebrates 13 festivals in 12 months as the saying goesBāra Māsare Tera Parba[1] (transl. Thirteen festivals in twelve months).
This section lists festivals which are celebrated throughout Odisha.
Durga Puja (ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା) occurs in the month ofAshvin (October and September). It is a 10-day-long festival. During the period, goddessDurga is worshipped inShakta pithas or temporary shrines calledpandals.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 thePrathama (first bright day)Paksha (lunar fortnight) of the Ashvin month. It also marks the end of the rainy season according to the traditional calendar. Theasura,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 ofCuttack is notable for its usage of silver and goldtarakasi (filigree) work on the crown of the idols and also on the pandals. The city Cuttack attracts many tourists during this period of the year. Special trains are run during this time to cater to the rise in tourist traffic.[2] After the worship in Cuttack, on the tenth day ofVijayadashami, the idols are taken out in extravagant processions and are immersed in theKathajodi river.[3]
Kali Puja occurs in the month of Ashvin (October). It is celebrated afterDurga Puja ends. It is to commemorate the legendary tale of Goddess Kali dancing in anger and stepping over Lord Shiva & to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. It is considered a big festival in the northern districts of Odisha, such asKendujhar.[4] In particularlykendujhar district a week longmela goes on duringKali Puja. After the week is over the idol of GoddessKali is taken on a grand procession and then submerged in aholy river or any water body nearby.[5]
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 godKartikeya also known as Kumar was born on this day. Girls also play traditional games likepuchi on this day and wear new clothes.[6]
Deepabali (ଦୀପାବଳି) is celebrated onKartikAmavasya.[7]
The families remember their forefathers by burningjute stalks and call upon them for blessing with theBadabadua 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.
HavingMahaprasad,
May you attain salvation on the 22 steps of theJagannath temple of Puri.[7]
In some parts of the state,Kali Puja is also celebrated on the same day.[7]
OnPrathamastami (ପ୍ରଥମାଷ୍ଟମୀ), households pray for the long life of the firstborns.Enduri Pitha is a special delicacy which is prepared for this occasion.[9] It has the cultural significance that first born were usually expected to take over as the family head. It falls on the eighth day ofMargasira month.[10]
Vasanta Panchami (ବସନ୍ତ ପଞ୍ଚମୀ) occurs on the fifth day of the first lunar fortnight ofMagha month (Magha Shukla Panchami), which usually falls in January or February. It is also observed asSaraswati Puja (ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ପୂଜା).Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and wisdom inHinduism. 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 (ମହା ଶିବରାତ୍ରି) is celebrated on the 13th night or 14th day on the waning lunar fortnight in thePhalguna month. It usually falls in February or March. It is considered the night on whichShiva perform theTandava dance. It is observed by fasting by adherents, especially. Married women pray for the well-being of their spouses. Unmarried women may pray for an ideal husband. Shiva temples are visited on this day and night. Bael fruit and leaves are offered to the god, who is worshiped in the form of alingam. Worshipers may hold an all-nightjagarana and break their fast the next morning.[13]
Shivaratri is celebrated in majorShaivite temples likeLingaraja temple,Kapilash Temple, andMukteswar temple. Shivaratri is also important toascetics as Shiva is considered an ascetic god. Ascetics may partake in drinks likeThandai on this day.[13]
It also known asDola Yatra (Odia:ଦୋଳ ଯାତ୍ରା, a five-day long Dola Purnima festival celebrated with pomp and fervor across the state. Followed by Dola Purnima comesHoli. On this day, theOdia calendar becomes ready and is offered to the deityJagannath, who is also known as "Dolagovinda".[14]The celebration is mostly celebrated in Villages where Idols ofKrishna andRadha come to a common place.
Ratha Yatra (ରଥଯାତ୍ରା) is an annual Hindu festival which originated inPuri inOdisha. The festival is celebrated all overOdisha on the 2nd day of dark fortnight the lunar month ofAshadha (Asadha Sukla Dutiya) usually in June/July. The festival involves transporting of the idols of the deitiesJagannatha,Balabhadra andSubhadra on giant chariot from theJagannath Temple to theGundicha 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]
Ganesh Chaturthi (ଗଣେଶ ଚତୁର୍ଥୀ) is celebrated as the birthday of the godGanesh, usually in August. It is primarily observed by educational institutes and students. The god is offeredprasad likemodak andladdu inpandals. Students may also offer writing utensils and notebooks, which are used by them after the festival. During the festival, student do not undertake any study related activity. AfterGanesh Visarjan, study activities are resumed.[17]
This section lists festivals which are specific to a region.
Raja Parba (ରଜ ପର୍ବ) is a three-day festival celebrated in the coastal districts inAshadha month starting with the first day of the month. It usually falls mid-June. This is festival dedicated toBasu-mata, the Earth goddess. During this period, no agricultural activities occur to allow the goddess to rest. The first day is calledpahila raja, the second day is properraja and third day is calledbasi raja.(Bhuin Na a na/ ଭୂଇଁ ନଅଣ) All the agricultural weapons got Wash and worshipped this day. Girls play on various types ofswings. People exchangepithas 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 (ବାଲି ଯାତ୍ରା) is celebrated to mark the voyages made by ancient sea traders from Odisha toBali. It falls on the day ofKartik Purnima. On this day, miniatures of the boats calledboitas are released in ponds, rivers and the sea. The festival is celebrated for a week all across the state.[21] A major annualtrade fair is also held inCuttack.[22]
TheGaja-Lakshmi Puja (ଗଜଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ ପୂଜା) is celebrated primarily inDhenkanal andKendrapara town.[1]Archived 21 October 2019 at theWayback Machine It is an 11-day festival dedicated to GoddessLakshmi, which begins onKumar Purnima.[23]
Dhenkanal's Gajalaxmi Puja is a major and famous festival of Odisha. It is an important part of the cultural identity not only of Dhenkanal district but of the entire state of Odisha. Every year, this puja begins on the full moon day of the Ashwina month, which is also known as Kumar Purnima, and is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur for about 11 days. During this time, the entire city of Dhenkanal remains immersed in a spiritual and festive atmosphere.
Nuakhai (ନୂଆ ଖାଇ) is particularly celebrated in the Sambalpuri cultural region. It is celebrated to welcome the newpaddy (ଧାନ) harvest. It falls on the day afterGanesh Chaturthi. In various regions, priests calculate thetithi 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]
Sitalsasthi is celebrated to observe the marriage of godShiva andParvati. One of the devotees acts as the parent of Shiva and another devotee acts as the parent of Parvati. The devotee acting as the father of the god travels to the goddess's house with a bundle ofsal tree leaves to make a proposal. After the marriage is fixed, deities of the locality and general public are invited to the ceremony. The general public also financially contributes to the ceremony. Sitalasasthi is also celebrated in many parts of South Ddisha mainly inGanjam district andBrahmapur.[25] The marriage ceremony is undertaken on the sixth day ofJyeshtha month. Various artists including eunuchs perform street performances during the festival.[26][27]
Dhanu Jatra is a large-scalereenactment of the reign and death of theasura kingKansa which takes place annually inBargarh. During the period of 1 to 11 January, the town of Bargarh is assumed to be the mythical city ofMathura. The neighboring settlements also take up names from theMahabharata. The district collector and police superintendent also pretend to be employees of Kansa. The festival begins with the marriage of Vasudeva andDevaki. Ambapalli village is treated asGopapur. During the festival, an actor pretending to be Kansa issues social messages which are contrary to mythical character.[28][29]
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