Festivals of Odisha

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.

During the period, goddess Durga is worshipped in Shakti peethas or temporary shrines called pandals.

Navratri begins on the Prathama (first bright day) Paksha (lunar fortnight) of the Ashvin month.

[2] The Durga Puja of Cuttack is notable for its usage of silver and gold tarakasi (filigree) work on the crown of the idols and also on the pandals.

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 of Vijayadashami, the idols are taken out in extravagant processions and are immersed in the Kathajodi river.

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.

After the week is over the idol of Goddess Kali is taken on a grand procession and then submerged in a holy river or any water body nearby.

[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.

[11][12] Maha Shivaratri (ମହା ଶିବରାତ୍ରି) is celebrated on the 13th night or 14th day on the waning lunar fortnight in the Phalguna month.

Ratha Yatra (ରଥଯାତ୍ରା) is an annual Hindu festival which originated in Puri in Odisha.

The festival is celebrated all over Odisha on the 2nd day of dark fortnight the lunar month of Ashadha (Asadha Sukla Dutiya) usually in June/July.

On this day, miniatures of the boats called boitas are released in ponds, rivers and the sea.

[1] Archived 21 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine It is an 11-day festival dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, which begins on Kumar Purnima.

In various regions, priests calculate the tithi and offer the new grains to the local goddesses at a precise auspicious moment.

At evening, folk dance and song events may be organized which are called "Nuakhai Bhetghat".

The devotee acting as the father of the god travels to the goddess's house with a bundle of sal tree leaves to make a proposal.

Sitalasasthi is also celebrated in many parts of South Ddisha mainly in Ganjam district and Brahmapur.

[26][27] 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.

During the festival, an actor pretending to be Kansa issues social messages which are contrary to mythical character.