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Full moons, harvest cycles and religious festivals are all celebrated with gusto. We do our best to schedule journeys to coincide with fascinating cultural celebrations. If there is a specifc festival you had in mind do let us know. Odisha’s most celebrated festival is the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Take a look at our festival of faith journey.
The annual Konark Festival, which is held in an open air auditorium with the temple as the backdrop, showcases a magical parade of India’s classical and traditional dance forms. Eminent dancers and their troupe delight visitors in the wintry evening of early December with dramatic choreographies. Besides, the dance performances the visitors will be treated, in an Artist Camp, to an exhibition of Odisha’s exclusive temple sculptures which are often described as poetry transcribed on stone. Sand Art exhibition will be yet another attraction for tourists. It is a festival of classical dances of India performed at the backdrop of the Sun Temple, Konark. The venue itself is gorgeous, the exquisite ‘Salamander’ or the ‘Dancing Hall’ of this shrine is an architectural wonder. Every inch of its walls have been covered with fine artistic designs of the ancient times. Musicians playing drums, cymbals and other musical instruments adorn the sculptures in Odissi dance poses.
This festival has established its own unique identity in the sense that eminent artistes of national and international repute participate and perform Odissi, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam and other classical, folk & tribal dances/music of our country on the enchanting stage of the Natyashala in the monumental Sun Temple, Konark. The stage and the atmosphere is magnified by the spiritual and aesthetic flavor, in the natural ambience of casuarinas and cashew trees.
A fabulous feast of dizzying dancing and dynamic stage presentations, is held at the hill of the famous Peace Pagoda. It showcases the vibrant traditions of martial arts of India through a colorful display of dances and music. The calm and solemn statue of Buddha overlooking the entire stage from the top of the stupa and the tranquil expanse of the countryside populated by paddy fields and cashew plantations provides the peaceful background to the outburst of movements and sounds which accompany the performance of the martial artists. The Martial dancers interpret incredible postures of aggression, self-defence and escape in graceful dance-forms with their swords, spears and shields. They thrill audience with their rhythm and precision of movement.The aim of the festival is to harmonize the vigor of martial tradition with the sublimity of peace through the art of dance.
Dhauli Mahotsav was started in 2003 by Orissa Dance Academy(one of the premier cultural institution of Orissa founded by Guru Gangadhar Pradhan in the year 1975) in order to create an awareness of our cultural heritage among the people of Orissa. The Mahotsav showcases a wide range of rural art and culture from classical to folk items such as Odissi dance, Odissi vocal, Mardal recital, Chhau dance, Daskathia, Pala, Yajna, Sankirtan, etc. Near about 500 artisties from different disciplines perform on the different days of the Mahotsav. The event aims to embrace many artists into its cultural fold and also at international cultural amity and harmony.
This festival is held against the backdrop of the 11th century Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar during the month of January..Celestial music, sublime surroundings and soothing climes of late winter-soul traverses to an elevated sphere leaving you utterly relaxed.The ambiance is relaxing, entertaining and uplifting. The city has a large assemblage of celebrated temples of which the Rajarani Temple is one of the most conspicuous.
It’s remarkable for the absence any presiding deity in it. The temple is famous for its ornate deul or compass and the statues of eight Dipalakas guarding the eight cardinal directions of the temple.The musical evenings are resplendent with excellent performances by the great maestros of Indian classical music creating an allegory of darbari gayans (musical performances in an Indian king’s court) of age old histories.Eminent instrumentalists and vocalists of India have rendered scintillating performance in this festival over the years.
With 62 Tribes, Orissa is rich in tribal culture. The simple tribes have developed a host of dance forms to enjoy their life after a day’s hard work. With a view to unfolding this aspect of the tribal culture a festival of tribal dances known as ‘Parava’ is organised in Koraput for a period of about a month in October-November through out the Koraput district culminating in the final event at Koraput every year. The tribal dancers with their traditional costumes and typical head gears keep the visitors amused. Besides the tribal dances this is also an occasion to witness the local products displayed in a craft Mela for exhibition as well as sale.
The Orissa State Level Annual Adivasi Exhibition, popularly known as Adivasi Mela, showcases the art and craft of the tribal communities. The special highlights of the fete are the forest products and tribal products, exhibited and sold as well as cultural programmes presented by tribal communities. This is a rare occasion to have a glimpse of the unique tribal culture of Orissa in the urban city of Bhubaneswar. Local residents eagerly wait for this annual opportunity to buy their yearly needs while tourists throng to get an over all picture and feel of the tribal society.
It was being organised for one week from 26th January every year but In view of the popularity of the event gained over the past years, the period of the Mela has been extended from one week to fifteen days. Now it is scheduled from 26th January to 9th February every year from 2010.
Orissa is rich in folk dances besides the Classical Odissi Dance. A festival is organised at Sambalpur for three days from 4th to 6th January to present glimpses of folk dances of Orissa from different regions. The scintillating dances accompanied by rhythmic music, vocal as well as instrumental, keep the visitors spell bound. The dancers and the accompanists also present glimpses of the local handloom fabric through their costumes, which is another attraction of the area.
A grand fair is held at Khandagiri near Bhubaneswar from Magha Saptami day which continues for about a week.A variety of local hand made products, especially from the rural areas, are displayed for sale. A festival of Indian classical and folk dances is also organized here during this period by the K N Memorial Foundation on an open air pandal in the evening hours.
The origin of Jagannath Cult has been traced back to the time of the Veda. The images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra of the Jagannatha Temple at Puri are made of Daru (Neem Wood) which is specially chosen with its symbols and characteristics. Therefore, Lord Jagannatha is called “Daru-Devata”, the deity made of wood. In the Rgveda, we find the mention of Daru floating in the ocean.Prayers are chanted here for taking shelter in the Daru. The deities of Jagannatha temple of Puri are worshipped with Gayatri Mantra which has its Vedic origin. Lord Jagannath is worshipped according to Dasaksari (ten syllabled) and Astadasaksari (eighteen syllabled) mantras. Balabhadra is worshipped as Vasudeva (the son of Vasudeva) with the twelve-syllabic Vasudeva Mantra. He is worshipped with the hymns of Purusa Sukta since he is treated as Virata. In the worship of goddess Subhadra, Sri and Devi Suktas of the Veda are used. Subhadra is worshipped with monosyllabic,(Ekaksara).
Mantra “Hrim” Every year the Car Festival of Lord Jagannath is held at Puri and other places in India and abroad. The origin of the Ratha (Chariot) has been traced back to the Vedas.
The Rgveda mentions the three storyed Rathas drawn by horses. These Rathas, according to Rgveda were moving in the air. As described in the Atharvaveda, the divinities were chariots. The observance of the Car Festival of Lord Jagannath dates back to the period of the Puranas.Vivid descriptions of this festival are found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana and Skanda Purana. Kapila Samhita also refers to Ratha Yatra. According to Satapatha Brahmana, Ratha has been originated from one of the broken part of the weapon flung by Indra on the body of the demon Brtrasura during the fight between the two. From the above considerations, it seems that there exist so many links between Veda and Jagarnnath Cult. To know more about more and to meet this unique cult please visit us at our Orissa tours.
Joranda Mela of Odisha (Orissa) has religious spirit associated with it. Joranda Mela is organized in Joranda of Dhenkanal district, hence the name Joranda Fair. People across India congregate in Joranda to observe this mega fair. The fair is held annually on the full moon day of Hindi calendar month Magha (in January- February).
A Havan or Yagya is held in ‘Yajna Kund’ as a part of mela celebrations. Thousands of liters of ghee are offered and burned in havan fire to ensure bringing back peace to life on earth and all the people will be gifted with all his basic needs. Atmosphere reverbs with the sound of ‘Alekh Brahma’ by devotees in rhythmic tone. This unique itinerary also ends with another colourful Rajim kumbha mela at rajim, in Chhattisgarh state. And the colourful dance festival at Konark.
Location of this festival: Joranda (Mahima Monastry) is 25 km from Dhenkanal and 90 km from Bhubaneswar.
The spectacular Rathyatra or Chariot festival at Puri which attracts thousands of Pilgrims every year, is truly the festival of Faith and harmony. The Grand procession of the deities marks the annual sojourn of patron Gods Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra & sister Subhadra. Huge wooden chariots are built for this occasion and physically pulled through the grand road by thousand of devotees. Heritage tours welcome to the travelers to this incredible festival for an unique spiritual experience.
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