Orissa-Today.com

Land of Festivals - Orissa

Festivals in Orissa are a rare blend of color, music, dance, religious fervor and energy. Being a very old land with lots of temples and diverse culture, the state hosts a large number of fairs and fiestas. Each and every festival is unique in itself with its typical verve, spiritual fervor and splash of motif. Even the musical beats and dance adoring the processions differ from tribe to tribe and according to region.

Festivals form an integral part of Orissa and it remains through out the year n various names. Thus the state is visited by pilgrims through out the year. Even though festivals and rath yatras are conducted almost every month, most important festivals of Hindus are mostly observed during the month of October. In Orissa there exist various beliefs and so there are festivals related to several things. Some festivals are related to Puri Jagannath while some to adore music, dance and other art forms. There are several tribal festivals also. Most important among various fests are Puri festival with world famous Rath Yatra, Puri Beach Festival, Konark Festival, Konark Dance Festival and Rajarani Music Festival.

World famous Rath Yatra of Puri Jagannath temple is the most important festival in the whole state held in the month of June. This lasts for ten days and during the festival Lord Jagannath, along with Subhadra and Balarama travels on Rath to Gundicha. You can join with thousands of devotees to pull the chariot and this act is believed you to pave way to salvation. Procession with Colourfully decorated Rath itself attracts several tourists. It also has music and dance mixed with various colors.

Kumar purnima is celebrated in relation to goddesses Lakshmi in the month of Aswina at Puri Jagannath temple. On the eve of festival devotees as well as priests in lieu of both gods play dice on behalf of goddesses Lakshmi and lord Jagannath. It is believed that this is done to satisfy gods.

Puri Jagannath temple of Orissa also celebrates some other festivals like Sayan Ekadasi, Bakula Amabasya, Samazik Chori, Krishan-Lila, Gamha and Magha-Purnima, Odham Sasthi, Chitalagi, Puri Sahi Yatra. Several music and dance festivals are also celebrated from March to April. Most of these are organized to demonstrate cultural burlesque to attract tourists.

Chandan Yatra is another festival in which idols travel from temple to temple on water boats in procession. Devasnana Purnima is yet another major festivals associated with Jagannath Temple and Nava Kalebara, Basanta Panchami and Chitou Amavasya are also celebrated in relation to this temple. Ashokasthami is the festival in which Lord Lingaraj from Rameswar Temple is carried on chariot and the festival lasts four days.

Tribal festivals are always entertaining though at times they are fascinating and baffling. Karama festival is one among them. Some minor tribal festivals are Kedu festival, Bija Pandu, Sume Galirak and Maghe Parab.

Chaita Parva is a tribal festival associated with the tribes of Koya, Bhuiyans,  Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj of the state.

Parab Tribal Festival is celebrated every year at Koraput district from 1996 onwards. The festival is organized by district council of Koraput. It is known as festival of festivals and is a showcase of rich culture of tribes of Koratput. This is a platform for various tribes to interact with each other and to work together for preserving their diverse culture and heritage. Parab Tribal Dance and Music Festival has following entertainments

• Quiz shows
• Debates
• Essay writing competitions
• Boat races
• Artist camps
• Book fair
• Poetry recital
• Art exhibitions
• Seminars
• Music competition
• Tribal dance competitions

Bali Yatra is yet another tribal festival celebrated in the month of karthik. Karthik month is considered as the most propitious month in Orissa. It is also known as Karthik Purnima and is celebrated on full moon day in November – December. The full moon day of the month of Karthika was considered as the luckiest day by traders of ancient days of Orissa, to travel to distant islands like Bali.  Festivals is held on the banks of Mahanadi River in Cuttack city. People float small boats in vibrant colors, made in cork, banana barks and paper lit with lamps in river during celebrations. This is in celebration of glory of ancient days, when people began their voyage from banks of Mahanadi in fort area. This ritual is known as Boita bandana. Bali yatra lasts for three to four days and on the last day idols of Karthikeswar used for worshiping are immersed in water near siva temple on the bank of Mahanadi.

Special festivals like Puri beach festival, Rajarani Music Festival and Konark festival is celebrated to show the rich cultural heritage of the state. Kalinga festival is yet another one of this type. Shreekstra Utsav and Ekamra Utsav are also celebrated as special festivals in the state. While all these are major special festivals there are some small special festivals also like Folk dance festival, Parab festival, Konark Dance and Music festival, Dhauli Mahatsova, Folk Dance Festival and Khandagiri Festival to enrich the cultural diversity of Orissa.

Puri Beach Festival is for tourists and is for five days from fifth of November every year. This is a guide to all thirteen festivals held in Puri in relation to Lord Jagannath.

Raja and Kumar Purnima are religious festivals while some of them like Diwali, Durga puja etc are celebrated national level. Mahashiva Ratri, Ganesha chathurthi, Lakshmi puja, Dusserah, Holi are all celebrated widely in the state. Several small religious festivals include Janmastami, Visuva Samkranti, Viswakarma Puja, Akshyaya Trutiya, Kartika Purnima, Savitri Brata, Sital Shashti, Hingula Yatra, Gahma Purnima, Rama Navami, Prathamastami, Chaitra Parba etc. Raja festival is held during June and lasts three days. Girls swings in rhythm with songs of raja during hese days and this is a very colorful and a festival of women.

Some other signature festivals of Orissa are

• Makar Sankranti or Makarmela – Celebrated in January to worship Sun God.
• Konark Dance festival – Held in the month of December at Konark temple this festival offers platform for performers in classical dance forms.
• Ekamra Utsav – It is a ten day festival at Bhubaneswar city and is dedicated to Lord Shiva, for upholding cultural heritage of Orissa.
• Kalinga Mahotsav – Held to encourage people to follow peace.
• Durga Puja – Dedicated to goddesses Durga and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
• Makar Sankranti – Celebrated on 14th of January this is to worship Sun god.
• Megha Mela – This is celebrated from January to February and lasts for seven days. This is the most colorful festival and worships sun god. 
• Maha Shivaratri – This festival is celebrated during February to March and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 
• Taratarini Mela - during month of March through April is one of the biggest fairs in Orissa. Fair is conducted on Tuesdays of Chaitra month.    
• Dhanu Yatra – From month of December to January is in dedication of Lord Krishna. This is to remember the visit of Lord Krishna to Mathura. 

Orissa is known as land of festivals and with its signature festivals Orissa becomes most lively state on this country. Dance, music and colors are a part of its heritage and culture and every community or tribe has some thing unique for their visitors. Festivals of Orissa come under various sects like tribal, temple festivals, religious festivals, special festivals.