Culture and

Festivals of ODISHA
GROUP MEMBERS-

Srushty Metange- 2581

Samiksha Dhalgade 2523
Prerna Marathe 2569
Sampada Raut 2550
Sanyukta Patil 2562
8th Largest State located
on the eastern coast of
India

Has a coastline of
485 kilometres
along
the Bay of Bengal
Also known as Utkala which
is mentioned in India's
 Odisha is a confluence of
3 different cultures that is
Dravidian,Adivasi and
Aryan.

The rich cultural heritage of

Odisha majorly goes to the
Hindu faith being the third
largest Hindu populated
state
 Main language spoken is
Odia
Their traditional dance is
Odissi is the oldest
surviving dance form in
India.

Religious temples and architecture

like Jagganatha Temple and Sun
 DURGA POOJA
Over the years, Durga puja has morphed into
an inseparable part of Indian culture with a
diverse group of people celebrating this
festival in their unique way while on
tradition. In Odisha, Durga puja is also called
Akalbodhan (literally, "untimely awakening of
Durga"), Sharadiya pujo ("autumnal
worship"), Sharodotsav ("festival of
autumn"), Maha pujo ("grand puja"), Maayer
pujo ("worship of the Mother"), Durga pujo,
or merely Puja or Pujo
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL
• DURGA POOJA festival is observed in the month of Ashvina i.e. September or October
• The festival celebrates the arrival of Goddess Durga with Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya,
Goddess Laxmi, and Goddess Saraswati.
• Exuberance and sheer joy remain the mood for ten days of celebration.
• Durga Pooja, major festival of Hinduism, traditionally held for 10 days and particularly
celebrated in Bengal, Assam, and other eastern Indian states. Durga Puja celebrates the
victory of the goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasur. It begins on the same day
as Navratri, a nine-night festival in many northern and western states that more broadly
celebrates the divine feminine (shakti).
DURGA POOJA PANDALS

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

The festival commemorates the power of women symbolized by 'Nari Shakti' in Goddess Durga.

The Durga Puja of Cuttack is notable for its usage of silver and gold tarakasi (filigree) work on the
crown of the idols and also on the pandals.

Durga puja is an important festival in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism. Durga puja in Kolkata has
been inscribed on the Intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO in December, 2021.

Environmental Impact : The sculpture-idols for the puja are traditionally made of biodegradable
materials such as straw, clay, soil, and wood. In today's times, brighter colored statues have increased
in popularity and have diversified the use of non-biodegradable, cheaper or more colorful substitute
synthetic raw materials. Environmental activists have raised concerns about the paint used to produce
the statue, stating that the heavy metals in these paints pollute rivers when the statues are immersed
at the end of the Durga.
Festivals in
Odisha
 KALINGA FESTIVAL
● Kalinga Mahotsav is celebrated with the
purpose to encourage people to follow the
path of peace and calm.

●The Vishwa Shanti Stupa located in state

capital Bhubaneswar also popular with the
name Peace Pagoda, is used as the venue
of this festival.

● . Kalinga Mahotsav is a festival

celebrated each year to pay tribute to that
great Kalinga of history.
 CHANDAN
YAATRA

● Also known as Gandhalepana Yatra, it is the

longest festival of Orissa which is celebrated at
Jagannath temple at Puri.

● The 42-day long festival is celebrated by

worshiping the deities with sandal mixed water.

● It is held on the third lunar day of the waxing

moon or the Akshay Tritiya, of Vaisakh.

● The legend that forms the backstory of the festival

comes from the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. In the
fable, Lord Krishna asks the devotee Madhavendra
Puri to smear sandal or Malaya
Ratha Yatra

Ratha Yatra/Jatra or Chariot Festival of

Lord Jagannath is the oldest and
biggest festival held in odisha.
It's celebrated every year in the month
of June or July on the second day of
Shukla Paksha.

The return journey is on ninth day and

is called as Bahuda Jatra.
 Highlights of the
Festival
This festival is celebrated for Nine days, during which
the Lord Jagannath, along with other two deities, Lord
Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra visit Gundicha Temple
and his Mausi Maa (Aunt's) temple.

The Rath Yatra starts from this temple, visits the

Gundicha temple, and returns to the Puri Jagannath
temple on the Ninth (9the) day.

Large chariots of about 45 feet are

created by the traditional carpenters for
the Yatra.
 Chaita Parva
Chaita Parva or Bija Pandu
festival celebrated by the tribals
of koraput village.

Bijja Pandu is one such traditional

festival celebrated in the month of
Chaitra which begins with the new
moon inthe month of March or April

It is the most important agricultural

festivals held to worship Earth
goddess.
 Highlights of the
Festival
Bijja Pandu is a tribal festival celebrated by principal tribe of
Koyas. A special Bijja Dance is performed during the festival in
which the women adorn themselves in ornaments.
Men beat drums during the dance performance and wear
huge head gears of bison horn decorated with peacocks
feathers and cowries.
As a ritual, mangoes are eaten during the festival.
Men of the tribe go fishing in the day time and return with the catch that
is prepared in for the festival feast.
 RAJA PARBA
Raja Parba (festival) is also one of the few festivals in the
country which celebrates menstruation and conveys the
message of empowerment against the societal taboos.

The festival spans three days. The first day is called

Pahili Raja (first day), second is Raja and third is Basi
Raja (the day after Raja).

It is believed Mother Earth undergoes menstruation. All

agricultural activities are stopped for three days. Swings are
an integral part of the Raja festival. In some places, swinging
competition is held between girls of various villages.
 CONCLUSION
To summarize what we have stated
earlier,

1) Festivals – connect with nature and

people.

2) To create awareness among genral

public.

3) Try to understand the thought behind

these festivals.

Examples-