|
Durga Puja
Durga Puja symbolises the memorial of good over evil. Life comes to a stand-still in the city of Cuttack as crowds decant over the Puja Mandaps to enjoy the festivities.
|
 |
|
 |
Gahma Purnima
This festival is celebrated as a merry festival of 'Gahma Pumei', on the full moon day of the lunar month of Shravana
and is especially auspicious to agriculturists.
|
|
|
Ganesh Chaturthi
The day devoted to the worship of Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva is known as Ganesha Chaturthi, which is the fourth day in the light half of the month of 'Bhadrab'.
|
 |
|
 |
Garbhama Samkranti
This festival is celebrated on the first day of the solar month of Karthika. This is the time when the paddy plants or the ears of corn are forming. This is compared to pregnancy and hence the name 'Garbhma'.
|
|
|
Hingula Yatra
Most of the festivals prevalent among the low-caste Hindus are either associated with the worship of 'Shakti' or Shiva It is believed to have grown out of the mass religious culture of the people under the spell of Tantrism
in the remote past.
|
 |
|
 |
Janmashtami
The birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth
personification of Lord Vishnu, is distinguished as Janmashtami.
|
|
|
Joranda Mela
Commonly known as 'Mahima Mela', it is celebrated at Joranda in Dhenkanal district on 'Magha Purnima'
day.
|
 |
|
 |
Karama Festival
The karma is a famous autumn festival which starts from the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of
Bhadrab and continues for some days in the month of Ashwina.
|
|
|
Kartika
Purnima
The whole month of 'Kartika' is considered to be
the most sacred among all the twelve months of the year.
|
 |
|
 |
Kedu Festival
Kedu is the most important festival of the 'Kondhs' of Phulbani, where
they are largely concentrated.
|
|
|
Kumar Purnima
This festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the lunar month of Ashwina
bring untold pleasure to the unmarried boys and girls.
|
 |
|
 |
Lakshmi Puja
Observed with much pomp and ceremony in Dhenkanal town, it commences from the fullmoon day of Aswin and continues for a period f one week.
|
|
|
Lok Mahotsava
To bring the folk dances and music of Orissa to attention, the Lok
Mahotsava is organized every year at Gangadhar Mandap in the town of
Sambalpur for a episode of three days.
|
 |
|
 |
Magha Saptami
Magha Saptami festival is great on the seventh day of the new moon of 'Magha'.
|
|
|
Mahashivaratri
The festival "Shiva's Great Night" falls on the 14th day of the dark half of Phalgun
and is observed by devotees all over the country.
|
 |
|
 |
Makara Sankranti
The track of the Earth round the Sun is recognized as "Kranti Brutta"
or the Circle of Movement.
|
|
|
Makar Mela
'Makar Sankranti' is celebrated with gusto in
mid-January when the Sun enters the orbit of Capricorn. |
 |
|
 |
Nabanna
A widely practiced custom among the tribal as well as non-tribal population of
Orissa is the offering of the first fruits to the deities, especially to the village deities. Paddy is the most significant crop which is measured as Goddess
Lakshmi. |
|
|
Nava Kalebra
Related to the car-festival, an important festival known as 'Nava Kalebara'
is held once in every twelve to nineteen years according to the
calculation of the year and date. |
 |
|
 |
Pana Sankranti
Pana Samkranti or Chhatua Samkranti
is celebrated to mark the first day of the astral month.
|
|
|
Prathamastami
Prathamashtami is one of the most popular festivals of Orissa,
peculiar to the region.
|
 |
|
 |
Puri Beach Festival
Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is a wounderful
beach resort for leisure tourists.
|
|
|
Raja Sankranti
Raja is one of the most popular festivals of Orissa, though it is not observed in western Orissa.
|
 |
|
 |
Ram Navami
The birthday of Lord Rama is observed as Rama Navami on the Ninth day of the light half of the month of Chaitra.
|
|
|
Rath Yatra
The most famous Orissan festival is of course the Ratha Yatra
or Car Festival (June-July) which attracts pilgrims and visitors from
all over the world. |
 |
|
 |
Savitri Barta
The 'Amavasya' (last day of the dark fortnight) in the month of 'Jyestha' is identified as "Savitri Amavasya" or "Savitri Brata". |
|
|
Shamba Dasami
The festival is celebrated on the tenth day in the bright fortnight in pousha
lunar month.
|
 |
|
 |
Sital Shashti
The celebration of marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva with Parvati starts
with the untying of the wedding knot of the divine couple. |
|
|
Sume-Gelirak
The 'Bondas' of Koraput are an interesting primitive
tribe. They live on hilltops and lead a secluded life. Their interaction
with other tribes is very rare. |
 |
|
 |
Taratarini Mela
The 'Taratarini Mela' one of Orissa's beggest fairs, talks place on every Tuesdays of the month of 'Chaitra' i.e. from around mid-March to mid-April at
Taratarini Pitha -30 km from Berhampur. |
|
|
Uda Parab
In some areas especially in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts of Orissa of flying festival popularly known as "Uda
Parab' is experiential. |
 |
|
 |
Visuva Samkranti
In India the months and years are counted on the basis of lunar or solar
movements.
|
|
|
Viswakarma Puja
Vishwakarma is recognized as the divine engineer since the Puranic
age.
|
 |
|
 |
Konark Dance
Festival
Described as a poem in stone, the Sun temple at Konark is the crowning glory of the temple architecture of Orissa. |
|
|
Naukhia
Festival
The most significant festival of western Orissa comprising the districts of Sambalpur, Bolangir, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and some areas of Phulbani, is "Nuakhia". |
 |
|
 |
Parab Festival
To emphasize the cultural tradition of Orissa, Parab is organized every year in
Koraput by the District Administration of
Koraput |
|
|
Khudurukuni Osa
Festival
On the Sundays of the month of 'Bhadrab' or 'Bhadra' this festival is observed by the unmarried girls of the business community of the coastal districts of Orissa.
|
 |
|
 |
Maghe Parab
The most popular and colourful festival of Konark,
an occasion for a grand congregating of Indian pilgrims and enthusiasts
from abroad, falls on the 7th day of the bright half of 'Magha'. |
|
