-: Orissa Fairs & Festivals :-

Cradled by the eastern ghats, situated in the eastern coast of India,orissa is one of the most beautiful states in India .With its Beautiful sandy beaches ,fabulous wild life ,aborigin style of living of more than 62 tribal communities ,it is still relatively virgin and unexplored by the western travellers.The lure of this state is so strong that you would like to come here again and again through out your lives.Lets come with us and discover this land of myths and legends.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

DHANU YATRA :

Dhanu Yatra relating to the episode of Lord Krishna's Visit to Mathura to witness the ceremony of bow is colourfully observed at Bargarh during (Dec.-jan.).The town of Bargarh becomes Mathura, the river jira becomes Yamuna and the village Ambapali on the other bank of the river becomes Gopa. Different acts of the puranic descriptions are performed at their right places and the spectators move from place to place with the actions to see the performance .

MAKARA SANKRANTI :

Makara Sankranti is celebrated with gusto in mid-january when the sun enters the orbit of Capricorn. Sun God is worshipped with greate fervor and enthusiasm by one and all. The festival can be best enjoyed at Kalijai an Island in Chilika,Atri,Ghatagaon,Keonjhar,Jashipur and Jagatsinghpur.

EKAMRA UTSAV :

The city holds major festival like Ekamra Utsav, for 15-days with dance, music, cuisine & floral shows during the second half of February. Different festivals are observed separately under such a big festival like Kalinga Mahotsav (festival of indian Martial Art at Dhauli), Rajarani Music Festival (brings together the music maestros from all over the country), Ekamra Food Festival (bring multi-cuisine at a place together), Mukteswar Dance Festival (Bring Classical Dance on the stage). All those festivals are the major festival in Bhubaneswar.

DOLO PURNIMA :

Papularly Known as Holi is the most populary and colourful festival of Orissa, celebrated on phalguna purnima (March) and a day succeeding. Based on the romantic plays of Radha and Krishna, people converge on the streets with their idols on gaily decorated "Vimanas" singing devotional songs in their praise and throwing colour powders and waters on each other.

ASHOKASTAMI :

This falls on the eighth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra (March/April). It is the Car Festivals of "LORD LINGARAJ" (Shiva) and is celebrated with a lot of pomp in Bhubaneswar. The image of Lingaraj (Shiva) and is celebrated with a lot of pomp in Bhubaneswar. The image of Lingaraj is taken in a chariot to the Rameshwara temple brought back after four days.

CHANDAN YATRA :

An image of jagannath and various other deities are taken in a stately cruis in the Narendra tank everyday.The boats are gaily decorated with swan-heads and flowers. There is music, dance and singing of holy songs. The Hindu New Year beginning in mid-April and heralding in summer is occasion for this festival at puri. The festival lasts for 21 days.

RAJA SANKRANTI :

It is a festival of the farmers. It is the time when they have no agricultural work. They worship mother earth for 3 days and after that the tilling work starts. In these three days celebration, it is believed that mother earth bleeds because of the menstruation. During these days farmers do not go to plough or the girls in homes work. The girls and the women folks enjoy in these days by swinging and playing. Amidst the song, swinging and playing. Amidst the song, dance and many types of jhoola, they eat home made sweets, pithas (cakes).It is one of the famous colourful festival of Orissa.

SNANA YATRA :

Literally the festival of bath, it closely follows chandan Chandan Yatra. The images of Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra are installed on a bathing platform and given a ceremonial bath. The deities then convalesce inside the sanctum-sanctorum closed to public view. During this period devotees have to be satisfied with a "darshan" of the gods, by praying to their images on "pattachitras" paintings on cloth.

RATHA YATRA :

Rata Yatra or the Car Festival of Puri, held in the month of June/July, is the most sacred and important of the festivals of Orissa. A large number of pilgrims from all over the country pour into puri to witness this colourful festival. Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra are taken in chariots to the Gundicha Ghar for a week and then returen to the main temple. They goi by three separate chariots led by Baldhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja. The festival start with the rhythmic clash of gongs, as the deities are helped on to the chariot by devout hands.Then the Raja of Puri comes, heralded by gaily decorated elephants.

He ceremoniously sweeps the platform of the chariots with a golden broom and sprinkles holy water, symbolizing that all are equal before god. Then to frenzied cries and music and the dancing of ash-smeared sadhus, the chariots start inching towards their destinations, drawn by a sea of eager devotees. The journey of only a mile may take more than 24 hours. Virtually all other activities in the town come to a standstill during the festival.

NUA KHAI :

This festival has a special significance. On this day in the second week of september people eat the products of their fields which they have produced by utilizing a lot of efforts at their field. They celebrate and take the food with their friends and relatives together. The festival is celebrated through out the state and mostly observed in Western Orissa.

BISWAKARMA PUJA :

It is celebrated through out the state in the month of September. On this day, labourers, Workers, Mechanics, Artisans, etc. Worship their factory, machines and tools to pay to the Lord of the Creator, Biswakarma.

KUMAR PURNIMA :

On the full moon day after Dussera, Kumar Purnima is celebrated by all the girls in the state. Mostly it is observed in coastal areas of Orissa. It is belived that girls worship Lord kartik for getting a groom as handsome as Lord kartik.

LAXMI PUJA :

Observed with much pomp and ceremony in dhenkanal town, it commences from the full moon day of Aswin (Sept.-Oct.) and continues for a period of one week.

BALIYATRA :

To commemorate the glorious past of ancient commercial voyages to the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra by Orissan Traders, a big fair called Bali Yatra is held on Mahanadi river bank at Cuttack on the full moon day of Kartik (November) .

PURI BEACH FESTIVAL : PURI, the abobe of Lord Jagannath, is a wonderfull beach resort for leisure tourists. It is Known for its thirteen major festivals of Lord Jagannath celebrated every year. But the new tourist Festival Known as Puri Beach Festival held each year in November has come to limelight in recent times

KONARK DANCE FESTIVAL :

A festival of classical dances of india, performed by the celebrated dancers of the country on the open air auditorium set amidst the casuarinas grove against the back drop of Sun Temple , a world heritage monument during the festival evening the atmospher is surcharged with rhythmic dancing beats and melodious tunes. It is held in Dec.1-5 every year Konark.