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Festivals
Makara Sankranti [15 Jan 2008, Tuesday]:
It is celebrated on the occasion of dakhinayan of the Sun god. A special semi-liquid pereparation called Makara Chaula is offered to the god as prasad and distributed among all. (Makara Chaula is prepared by combining semi-pasted rice, milk, grated coconuts, banana, chopped cucumber, cottage cheese, sugar, ginger and black pepper - all stirred together).
Sri Panchami [11 Feb 2008, Monday]:
This day students seek the blessings of Devi Saraswati - the goddess of arts and learning. Puja is performed before the image of the goddess and students observe fasting till they make a floral offering (pushpanjali) to her around mid-day.
Maha Shiva Ratri [6 Mar 2008, Thursday]:
It is the day of Lord Shiva's appearance in the universe. To celebrate the occasion devotees of Lord Shiva perform pujas in temples during the day. There is a custom of remaining awake throughout the night by chanting or listening to hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.
Phagu Dasami [16 Mar 2008, Sunday]:
This is the celebration of the romantic union of Radha and Krishna. Beginning this day the images of both Radha and Krishna are placed on a swing and are worshipped by smearing the images with abir (coloured powders). This ritual continues till Dola Purnima.
Dola Purnima [21 Mar 2008, Friday]:
This is the concluding day of six-day long worship of Radha and Krishna, which starts on Phagu Dasami. This year (on 3rd March 2007) it also happens to be the day of lunar eclipse. As per Oriya traditions, cooking of foods and pujas of any kind are prohibited from 6.01 pm IST on 3rd March 2007 to 6.41 pm IST on 4th march 2007 to ward off the ill effects of lunar eclipse.
Rama Navami [14 April 2008, Monday]:
As in the rest of India, Rama Navami is also celebrated throughout Orissa as the birth day of Lord Rama. It is also a celebration of his wedding with goddess Sita. Pujas are offered during the day by visiting the temples of Lord Rama.
Maha Vishuba Sankranti [14 April 2008, Saturday]:
It is also known as Mesha Sankranti. It is the day on which the Sun enters the sign Libra. The Oriya community celebrates New year on this day. A sweet drink known as pana is prepared and distributed among one and all. (Pana is prepared by mixing different types of fruits, water, milk, bela, curd and sugar). This day is also marked by literary and cultural get-togethers..
Chaitra Purnima [20 April 2008, Sunday]:
A month-long puja of goddess Mangala begins this day (usually on Tuesdays of the month). Fishermen worship their fishing net, boat and the waters seeking blessings of the almighty for prosperity.
Akshaya Trutiya [8 May 2008, Thursday]:
It is when farmers auspiciously begin sowing seeds of paddy in their fields. This is also known as muthi anukula’. The process of construction of the grand chariot of Lord Jagannath for the occasion of Rath Yatra is also initiated this day by following prescribed rituals.
Savitri Brata [3 June 2008, Tuesday]:
It is observed by all married women for the well being of their husbands. Women performing the puja have to observe fasting during the day and read out or listen to Sabirti Brata Katha which is a poetic rendition of how Maha Sati Savitri saved her husband from the clutches of Yamaraj by dint of her of her virtues and devotion. Women get money from their parents / brothers for meeting costs for the puja.
Shitala Sasthi [8 Jun 2008, Sunday]:
This is the celebration of Lord Shiva’s wedding with goddess Parvati. In villages the wedding celebrations are arranged in grand manner. Marriage procession (barat) of Lord Shiva is organized and delicacies are distributed among people in celebration of the celestial wedding.
Raja [14 Jun 2008, Saturday]:
During the period of three days of celebrations of Raja, women get their right to rest and merri-making. They are not supposed to work during these days. Swings are made under branches of large trees so that women and girls could enjoy swinging while the husbands and /or other male-members in the family take care of cooking. It is customary to relish Poda Pitha (see Oriya Foods page for recipe) during the festival. Women are strictly forbidden to perform any puja either at home or in the temples during the period three days.
Ratha Yatra [4 July 2008, Friday]:
Lord Jagannath along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra comes out of the precincts of his temple in Puri for a visit to his aunt’s place at Gundicha Mandir which is about five kms away. The three deities undertake their journey in three huge chariots pulled by thousands of devotees. It is said that it is an occasion for Lord Jagannath to give an opportunity of his darshan to the people who are forbidden entery into his temple. (Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple). Though this festival had its beginning at Puri, now a days it is also observed through out the world, where ever there are temples of Lord Jagannath.
Bahuda Yatra [12 July 2008, Saturday]:
It is the day of return journey of Lord Jagannath from the Gundicha Mandir. It is celebrated with the same pomp and gaiety as that of Ratha Yatra.
Chitalagi Amabasyaha [1 Aug 2008, Friday]:
Lod Jagannath is embellished with a golden mark on the forehead called chita this day. In homes a special pitha called Chitau Pitha is prepared and offered to Lord Jagannath in puja.
Gamha Purnima [16 Aug 2008, Saturday]:
The practice of tying rakhis on the wrists of brothers this day is only a recent phenomenon in Oriya community imitated from the north Indian communities. Originally in Orissa this day marks the worship of Lord Balabhadra. Bullocks and cows are also worshipped by smearing their heads with sindur. The youngsters gather in the streets and demonstrate a traditional high jumping skill called Gamha Dian.
Ganesh Chaturthi [3 Sep 2008, Wednesday]:
Ganesh Chaturhi is observed by the Oriya community for invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha as is the custom among other communities in India. Students observe fasting until they make floral offerings (Pushpanjali) before the image of Lord Ganesha seeking his blessings for acquiring wisdom.
Apara Paksha [14 Sep 2008, Sunday]:
It marks the beginning of a period of 15 days to perform shraddha for paying tributes to one’s departed ancestors. It is performed wishing peaceful stay of the departed ones in heaven.
Dasahara [9 Oct 2008, Thursday]:
As in other states in India, Dasahara also marks the end of four-day long Durga puja celebrations in Orissa. On this day the valedictory puja of Devi durga is done, and the earthen image the goddess is immersed in river. In Orissa this day at around mid-day all types vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, bicycles and bullock-carts are worshipped by invoking the presence of Devi Durga into them. In the evening, women perform a special puja called Somanath Brata. It is a form of worshipping lord Shiva. A treatise narrating the tale is Soma Nath is read out. The offerings before the god include Manda Pitha ( a delicacy made of wheat flour with stuffing of coconut paste and spices), ten types of fruits and ten types of flowers. After completion of the Puja in the evening women break their day-long fast.
Sudasha Brata [ 9 Oct 2008, Thursday]:
Sudash Brata is observed whenever there is a combination of (1) Shukla Paksha (2) Thursday and (3) Dasami. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped during the day by offering ten Manda Pithas in puja (see Oriya Foods page for recipe of Manda Pitha). A string consisting of ten layers of thread is prepared in the prescribed manner and tied on the arm by women until the arrival next occasion for Sudasha Brata (when the string is replaced again).
Kumara Purnima [14 Oct 2008, Tuesday]:
It is particularly a festival of kumaris . How ever it has now evolved into a festival of kumars as well. The young ones enjoy this festival wearing new dresses. In the evening they worship the full moon in the sky. In the southern parts of Orissa the young and old alike celebrate this festival. Playing of some indoor game on this day is considered mandatory. It is said that one who does not play this day would be born as a toad in the next birth.
Dipavali [28 Oct 2008, Tuesday]:
Also known in the northern states of India as Diwali, this festival is mainly celebrated as a remembrance of pitru Purusha, or ancestors. Burning sticks or diyas are shown towards the sky in the evening seeking the blessings of ancesters and praying for their well-being. Bursting of fire-crackers and decorating houses with candles and diyas this day is not a custom original to Orissa. How ever this ritual has now been widely adopted from the north Indian states.
Panchuka [8 Nov 2008, Saturday]:
It is a practice among pious Oriyas to give up non-vegetarian foods such as fish, meat and egg during the entire month of Kartik. How ever those who are not in a position to abstain from non-vegetarian foods during the entire month, have the option to give up the same for five days beginning from Panchuka. There is a popular proverb in Oriya that says that even the fish-hunting bird of crane does not touch fish during these five days.
Kartika Purnima [13 Nov 2008, Thursday]:
It is an occasion to remember the prosperity of Orissa in the good old days when the sadhabas (maritime traders) practised maritime trade in far off countries. They were traditionally sailing off into the sea every year on Kartik Purnima day while their spouses used to see them off by conducting aarti. As a token remembrance of this past glory, Oriya women sail off small toy-like boats in the rivers and perform puja early in the morning.
Prathama Ashtami [20 Nov 2008, Thursday]:
It is an occasion to perform puja for the well being of the first child in the family. A delicacy called Haladi Patra Pitha (similar to stuffed idlis steamed on the green leaves of turmeric plant) is the specialty of the day.
Manabasa Gurubar [20 Nov 2008, Thursday]:
On every Thursday in the Oriya month of Margasir goddess Lakshmi is worshiped with utmost devotion by Oriya women. They wake up very early in the morning and clean the house with broom-sticks, for it is believed that goddess Lakshmi would never visit the house if the house in dirty and untidy. The entrance as well as the door step of the house is decotrated with artistic Orissan alpana (called chita). A pot made of bamboo canes used in the olden days for measuring paddy (known as Mana) is filled to the brink with freshly harvested paddy. It is believed that goddess Lakshmi visits every house hold during the puja. It is a custom to read out Malalakshmi Purana written by ancient poet Balaram Das while performing the Puja.