festival of odisha

Odisha, the land of diverse cultural heritage, celebrates numerous religious festivals round the year, which are typical to the particular region.There is a saying that, BAARA MASARE TERA PARABA ( 13 festivals in 12 months). The festivities are usually vibrant, marked by colourful processions, huge gatherings, and the entire region revels in a festive atmosphere. We list down a few popular festivals of Odisha.

Here is the list of most famous festivals of Orissa that this coastal state is famous for:

Rath Yatra :

Also known as Car Festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath who is believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. The Rath or Chariot Yatra on this festival represents the journey of Lord Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. The huge deities of Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra are taken for a religious yatra on the chariots to the summer temple for a week. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels, construction of which is began two months prior to the festival. People of Orissa actively participate in the Rath Yatra. The people have always been connected to this traditional festival of Orrisa, so much that in the olden times, the devotees used to jump to death in front of the Rath under the belief that dying under the Jagannath’s chariot will send them to heaven.

Time of Celebration- June or July

Raja festival :

The Raja Parba of Odisha is one of most popular festivals of the state. This is a three-day-long festival dedicated to Mother Earth (Bhuma Devi) and womanhood at large. The festivities begin a day before Mithuna Sankranti and conclude two days after that.
The first day of the festival is called Pahili Raja, the second is Mithuna Sankranti and the third Bhu daha or Basi Raja. The preparation begins one day before Pahili Raja, and it is called Sajabaja. Primarily, it is a time for the unmarried girls to prepare for their matrimony. They follow various customs related to the festival by consuming nutritious food like Podapitha, not walking barefoot, taking a bath on the first day, and merrily swinging on ropes attached to a tree.

Nuakhai :

Nuakhai, as the name, suggests that Nua means New and Khai means Food. So, the festival of Nuakhai is a festival to celebrate newly harvested food by the farmers. One day after the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi it is celebrated especially in the Western part of Odisha with much pomp and jubilation. People staying in distant lands come back to their native places, wear new clothes and offer prayers before God and eat delicious foods prepared from the newly harvested crops.

bali jatra :

In the Hindu month of Kartik(October - November), the city of Cuttack in Odisha celebrates a renowned festival known as Bali Jatra. The name Bali Jatra means ‘A Voyage to Bali’. This popular festival of Odisha marks its beginning from the day of the full moon and continues for the next seven days at Gadagadia Ghat of the River Mahanadi where they worship the Lord Kartikeswar - the presiding deity of this festival. Moreover, through this festival, the locals also commemorate that day when sailors of Odisha first crusade to distant lands of Java, Bali, Borneo, Sri Lanka and Sumatra. To pay their homage, regional people make the artificial boat(made up of paper, barks of the banana tree and cork) and float it in the water. Besides, the festival also observes the tradition of lighting lamps in the boat which is called Boita Bandana. This boasts an amazing landscape of countless boats lit with lamps.

Savitri brata :

Savitri Amavasya or Savitri Brata is an important vow that married women in Odisha practice by observing fast for their husband and wishing for their long life. Observed on the Amavasya(last day of the dark fortnight) in the month of Jyestha, the day is considered very auspicious and the fast is observed by every married woman in Odisha.

Married women in Odisha fast during the day and listen to the story of Savitri and Satyabana. The fasting is dedicated to Savitri and Satyabana her husband who was destined to die within one year but was brought back to life by her severe penance.