Festivals of Odisha: A golden ritual of culture

In Odia there is a proverb saying "Baara maasare tera parba" meaning there are more festivals in a year in Odisha as compared to the months in a year. Mainly the festivals are based on religious and age old traditions. People used to enjoy a lot during these festivals along with that they learn a lot about Odia values and culture from that.

Festivals of Summer Season:


Some of the below festivals that occur during the summer month:

1. Pana Sankrati:

 This is the first day of summer in Odisha. It is also popularly known as "Mahaa Bishubha Sankraanti". There is a tradition of offering "Panaa" (A drink prepared by mixing water, wooden apple, grated coconut, various fruits, jaggery/sugar, black pepper powder) to goddess. To beat the summer heat this type of drink is also beneficial for our body scientifically.



2. Savitri Brata

This festival is mainly for the  Odia married ladies whose husbands are alive. They worship Goddess and keep full day fast by eating only fruits(no cooked food) for the health and longevity of their husbands. 

3. Raja

It is mainly a festival of unmarried girls. It is 3 day long festival. It is a belief that mother earth menstruate during these 3 days, which is a sign of fertility. So girls are not allowed to walk barefoot on floor. The main attraction of Raja is "Poda Pithaa"(A cake made from urad dal , jaggery and grated coconut) and playing on the swings (that are tied to the tree). It falls in  the mid of June. The first day is called Pahili Raja, second day is Raja Sankraanti, third day is Bhudaaha and final  day is called Basumati Snana. Though celebrated all over the state it is more enthusiastically observed in the districts of Cuttack, Puri and Balasore.

4. Chandan Yatra 

In Odisha third day of the bright fortnight of Baisakha is very important. This day is also celebrated as Akshaya Tritiya. From this day the farmers start sowing seeds for harvest. The Chandan yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri starts from this day. The construction of chariots of the deities also begins on this day. 'Chandan Yatra', i.e Sandalwood paste festival, the three Lords in Puri are being offered the  sandal mixed water. Chandan yatra is divided into two periods i.e, Baahara chandan or outer chandan(21 days) and Bhitar chandan or inner chandan (21 days). The outer chandan  is celebrated for 21 days. Everyday the representative of the deities i.e, Rama, Krishna, Madan Mohan, Laxmi and Saraswati are taken in a procession from Jagannath Temple to the Narendra pond (also known as chandan pokhari in local language). The deities are then taken on two chapas(boats) on an
excursion to Narendra tank. The two boats are named as "Nanda" and "Bhadra".



Festivals of Rainy Season:

Some of the festivals of rainy season are:

1. Rathayatra (Chariot Festival)


It is also known as Chariot festival . Three chariots or cars are being prepared for the deities i.e one for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabadhra , and Devi Subhadra in Puri. People used to pull those chariots using the long ropes tied to the chariots and take them to the lords aunt's house(locally known as "Gunicha Mandir"). Lords used to stay there for 9 days and on 10th day they used to come back to the main temple. Puri's chariot festival is world famous. 


2. Chitau Amaabasya

It is celebrated on  the new moon day of shraavan massa(Falls in the month of July). Rice pancakes (popularly known as chitau pitha) made out of soaked rice, grated coconut and salt are  offered to lord. It is also celebrated as an "Agricultural festival".



Festivals of Winter Season:


Some of the festivals of winter season are:

1. Durga Puja 

Durga puja is a famous festival in Odisha. It is celebrated in all small and big cities with great enthusiasm. This festival truly symbolizes the triumph of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). It is primarily celebrated in all streets in the city of Cuttack. It falls in the oriya month of Ashwina. People worship Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi , Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesh and Lord Kaartikeya in different pandals. 

2. Diwali 

In Odisha, Diwali is celebrated just in the same way as in the other parts of country i.e by cleaning the house, lightening diyas, burning the firecrackers, putting rangoli in the front of the main door . But one thing in addition i.e "Badaa Baduaa Daaka"(meaning to perform a puja in the night for the forefathers/ancestors in order to receive blessings from them). People also celebrate "Kali puja" in some parts of Odisha.




3. Kartik Purnima

According to hindus "Kartik" is a religious month. People  in Odisha used to refrain themselves from eating non vegetarian food in this month. People celebrate last five days of the month which is known as “Panchuka” and the very last day as "Kaartika Purnima". On this day of "Kaartik Purima" people used to observe the ritual of "Boita Bandana"(i.e floating the boats made up of paper or made of up skin of banana tree) in the near by water bodies. It reminds the glory of the state. In olden days the Odia Saadhabas(sea traders) used to go distant islands like Java, Sumatra etc for their trade.

4. Odia Maanabasa Laxmi Puja 

Maanabasa Gurubaara is a festival celebrated by Odia Hindus in Odisha. In this festival the women in the house worship "Goddess Mahalaxmi" in the very early hour of morning. It is an ancient belief by the people that the goddess herself goes to every household and removes pain and sorrow. It is held on every Thursday in the month of Maargasira(falls in the month of November-December).

According to age old belief, Goddess Laxmi loves a clean house so all women make their houses clean then decorate the house with jhoti chitaa(is a traditional Odia art). It is made from rice paste(rice in combination with water are ground together to make a paste). People also use their fingers to make jhoti chitaa. Ladies of the house draw the jhoti chitaa on the floor, in front of the main door and in the puja (Worship) place .



Festivals of Spring Season:


1. Vasant Panchami

Vasant Panchami marks the arrival of spring season in Odisha. On this day people worship Goddess Saraswati, (Goddess of knowledge and wisdom) in different pandals. The students in the educational institutions mainly do this puja.

2. Dola Purnima and Holi

In Odisha, Dola Purnima is also know as "Dola Yatra". It is 5 day long festival. During these five days the idols of  Lord "Krishna" are carried in "Vimaana"(Palanquin) to different homes. People offer prasad to the visiting deity and seek blessings from him. "The festival of colors" or popularly known as "Holi" comes a day after "Dola Purnima". Starting from adults to kids, all play with colors and put different colors on each other.