Festival

Raja Sankranti is an agriculture-oriented festival, mainly observed in the coastal districts of Odisha for three days. The last day of the month of Jestha is known as Pahili Raja, and the first day of the month of Asadha is Raja Sankranti. Even in some places in Odisha, the fourth day of the Raja festival is also celebrated as Basumata Puja. During this festival, Earth, or "Basu Mata," is considered to be a menstruating woman. Hence, digging soil or tempering it in any way is strictly prohibited. Mother Earth is…

Sital Sasthi starts on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Jyestha and continues for three days. The marriage ceremony of Siva with Parvati is performed on this day every year. The villagers are too poor to construct a chariot. They place a wooden bull on two bullock carts joined together. Parvati and Siva are seated on the back of the god, and the goddess takes Bhog at every door. This festival attracts a great gathering of people from the neighboring villages for the skillful fireworks display. Sitali Yatra…

Nirjala Ekadashi is considered to be a very sacred day, and so fast is observed on every eleventh day of the bright and dark half of the month. The eleventh day of the moon is specially set apart for devotional exercises and fasting. It is a day dedicated to the worship of Vishnu. The Vishnu Purana and the Markandeya Purana give detaileddescriptions of the benefits resulting from the observance of Ekadasi brata. In all Ekadasi, fasts are observed in a year, but some Ekadasis, are relatively of greater significance. There…

Ananta Brata is a holy festival celebrated mainly by Hindus in Odisha. This Osa is a celebration of the eternal deity believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Anata Brata Osha falls on the 14th day of the fortnight of Bhadrava (August-September). On this auspicious day, Vishnu sleeps on the bed of Anant in the Milky Ocean and is worshipped and meditated upon. On this day, 14 types of fruits are offered to Lord Vishnu along with fasting. During the Ananta Brata Puja, a 14-knot green thread is tied…