FESTIVALS IN ODISHA

CONTENT

SL NO	MAJOR FESTIVALS IN ODISHA	PAGE
1	DURGA PUJA	1
2	KUMARA PURNIMA	2
3	DEEPABALI	3
4	VASANT PANCHAMI	4
5	MAHA SHIVARATRI	5
6	RATHA YATRA	6
7	GANESH CHATURTHI	7
8	DOLA PURNIMA	8
9	RAJA PARBA	9
10	BALI JATRA	10
11	NUAKHAI	11
12	DHANUJATRA	12
13	JANMASTAMI	13
14	SITALSASTHI	14

1. DURGA PUJA (ଆଶ୍ୱିନ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ଦଶମୀ)

DURGA PUJA ALSO KNOWN AS DASAHARA, IS A 10 DAY LONG FESTIVAL. DURGA PUJA OCCURES IN THE MONTH OF ASHVIN (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER). THE EVIL, MAHISHASURA, WAS KILLED BY DURGA ON THE TENTH DAY ACCORDING TO HINDU MYTHOLOGY. ON THE TENTH DAY RAVAN DAHAN ALSO CELEBRATED GORGIOUSLY. 

2. KUMARA PURNIMA (ଆଶ୍ୱିନ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା) 

IN THE HINDU LUNAR MONTH OF ASWINA, KUMAR PURNIMA OR SHARAD PURNIMA OCCURS ON THE FIRST FULL MOON DAY. THE HANDSOME GOD KARTIKA ALSO KNOWN AS KUMARA WAS BORN ON THIS DAY. ACCORDING TO LEGEND, IF AN UNMARRIED GIRL CELEBRATES KUMAR PURNIMA, THEN SHE CAN GET A REALLY HANDSOME  HUSBAND.  IN  SOME PART  OF  THE STATE LAXMI PUJA

IS ALSO CELEBRATED ON THIS SPECIAL  DAY. 

3. DEEPABALI  (ଆଶ୍ୱିନ ଅମାବାସ୍ୟା)

DEEPABALI IS A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT. DEEPAVALI CAN ALSO BE EXPRESSED AS VICTORY OF TRUTH OVER UNTRUTH. DEEPABALI IS CELEBRATED ON KARTIKA AMAVASYA (OCTOBER/NOVEMBER). IN THE SAME DAY KALIPUJA IS ALSO CELEBRATED IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

4. VASANT PANCHAMI (ମାଘ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ପଞ୍ଚମୀ)

VASANT PANCHAMI OCCURS IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. THE DAY ALSO OBSERVED AS SARASWATI PUJA. ACCORDING TO HINDU MYTHOLOGY, DEVI SARASWATI IS THE GODDESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM. IT ALSO SIGNALS THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING SEASON. 

5. MAHA SHIVARATRI (ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନ କୃଷ୍ଣ ପକ୍ଷ ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶୀ)

MAHA SHIVARATRI USYALLY FALLS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY OR MARCH. ACCORDING TO HINDU MYTHOLOGY, IT IS CONSIDERED THE NIGHT ON WHICH LORD SHIV PERFORM THE TANDAVA DANCE. DEVOTEES OFFERS AEGLE MARMELOS/BELL FRUIT OR LEAVES TO LORD SHIVA FOR FULFILLMENT OF THEIR WISHES. SHIV TEMPLES ARE VISITED ON THIS DAY AND NIGHT. 

6. RATHA YATRA (ଆଷାଢ଼ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ଦ୍ଵିତୀୟା)

RATHA YATRA FESTIVAL USUALLY OCCURES IN THE MONTH OF JUNE OR JULY. THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATED BY TRANSFERING THE IDOLS OF THE DEITIES JAGANNATH, BALABHADRA AND SUBHADRA FROM PURI TEMPLE TO GUNDICHA TEMPLE. THE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE IS CALLED AS CHARIOT OR RATHA. A LARGE NUMBER OF DEVOTEES COMES TO PURI DURING RATHA YATRA.

7. GANESH CHATURTHI (ଭାଦ୍ରବ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ଚତୁର୍ଥୀ)

GANESH CHATURTHI OR GANESH PUJA USUALLY OCCURES IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. THE DAY IS CELEBRATED AS THE BIRTHDAY OF LORD GANESH. ACCORDING TO HINDU MYTHOLOGY, SHRI GANESH IS THE GODDESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND THEREFORE IT IS PRIMARILY OBSERVED BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES AND STUDENTS. THE GOD IS OFFERED MODAK AND LADDU AS  PRASAD. 

8. DOLA PURNIMA (ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା) 

DOL PURNIMA ALSO KNOWN AS DOLA YATRA AND THE FESTIVAL IS DEDICATED LORD KRISHNA. THROUGH THE FESTIVAL, THE SPRING SEASON IS WELCOMED AND CELEBRATED WITH MIRTH AND MERRIMENT. THE FESTIVAL USUALLY OCCURES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH. THE GREAT HOLI FESTIVAL ALSO OBSERVES ON THE SAME DAY. 

9. RAJA FESTIVAL (ଆଷାଢ଼ କୃଷ୍ଣ ପକ୍ଷ ଷଷ୍ଠୀ)

RAJA FESTIVAL ALSO KNOWN AS RAJA PARBA  OR  MITHUNA  SANKRANTI, OCCURES  IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. THE  FESTIVAL  HELD  IN  HONOUR EARTH  GODDESS  ( BASU  MATA ). THROUGH THE FESTIVAL, GIRLS PLAY ON   VARIOUS  TYPES  OF  SWINGS, EXCHANGE SWEETS AMONG FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND ENJOY WITH MIRTH  AND  MERRIMENT. 

10. KARTIK PURNIMA / BALI JATRA (କାର୍ତ୍ତିକ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା)

KARTIKA PURNIMA OR BALI JATRA IS CELEBRATED TO REMEMBER SADHABA PUA (SEA TRADERS) AND THEIR VOYAGES TO BALI FROM ODISHA. THROUGH THE FESTIVAL, DIFFERENT TRADE FAIRS ARE ALSO HELD IN THE STATE. ON THIS DAY, MINIATURES OF THE BOATS CALLED BOITA/DANGA ARE ALSO RELEASED TO WATER BODIES LIKE RIVERS, PONDS AND SEA. 

11. NUAKHAI (ଭାଦ୍ରବ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ପଞ୍ଚମୀ / ଋଷି ପଞ୍ଚମୀ  )

NUAKHAI ALSO KNOWN AS NABANHA IS CELEBRATED TO WELCOME THE NEW PADDY HARVEST. THE FESTIVAL FALLS ON THE DAY AFTER GANESH CHATURTHI IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. ON THIS DAY, DIFFERENT TRADITIONAL CUISINES ARE PREPARED AND PRESENT TO THE DEITY BEFORE EATING. DURING THE FESTIVAL, PEOPLE GREETS EACH OTHER WITH THE WORDS “NUAKHAI JUHAR” AND AT THE EVENING DIFFERENT CULTURAL PROGRAMS ARE ORGANIZED WHICH ARE CALLED  “NUAKHAI BHET GHAT”.  

12. DHANUJATRA (ପୌଷ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ତୃତୀୟା)

DHANUJATRA IS FAMOUS FESTIVAL, CELEBRATED IN THE WESTERN REGION OF ODISHA. IN BARGARH DISTRICT, THE FESTIVAL  IS  CELEBRATED  AT  A LARGE  SCALE  AND  IS  WORLD FAMOUS. THE  FESTIVAL DHANUJATRA, IS ABOUT REENACTMENT OF THE REIGN AND DEATH OF KING KANSA. THE FESTIVAL BEGINS WITH THE MARRIAGE OF BASUDEV AND DEBKI TILL THE DEATH OF KING KANSA. PEOPLE PLAYS DIFFERENT ROLE ACCORDING TO MYTHICAL CHARACTER. DHANU JATRA OCCURES IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY. 

13.JANMASTAMI(ଭାଦ୍ରବକୃଷ୍ଣପକ୍ଷ ଅଷ୍ଟମୀ)

JANMASTAMI USUALLY OCCURES IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST. THE DAY IS CELEBRATED AS THE BIRTHDAY OF LORD KRISHNA. LORD KRISHNA KILLD THE DEMON KANSA. SO, THE DAY SHOWS VICTORY OF GOOD ON BAD. 

14. SITALSASTHI (ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ) 

SITALSASTHI IS A MAJOR FESTIVAL, CELEBRATED IN THE WEST/SOUTH REGION OF ODISHA. THE FESTIVAL SITAL   SASTHI  ,  IS   ABOUT   THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY OF GODDESS SHIVA AND PARVATI. THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED AT A LARGE SCALE AND PEOPLE PLAYS DIFFERENT ROLE ACCORDING  TO  MYTHICAL CHARACTER. DURING THE FESTIVAL, TRADE   FAIRS   AND   VARIOUS ELECTRONIC AND MANUAL SWINGS ARE ALSO HELD FOR SHOPING AND ENTERTAINMENT.