Famous Fair & Festival of Odisha

Famous Fair & Festival of Odisha

The People of Odisha observed fairs and festivals throughout the year. It is said the 13th festival in the 12th month or Bara Masara Tera Parba. most of the people of Odisha state are religious-minded and habituated to worship God and goddess. The main and important festivals which attract the visitors are given below.

Taratarini Yatra- It is a famous festival of Goddess Taratarini every Tuesday in the month of Chaitra at the site of Taratarni seated on the hillock at Purushottampur of Ganjam district. It is 35 km away from Berhampur.

Laxmi Puja – Laxmi Puja is a week-long celebration offering Puja to Goddess Laxmi. It is gorgeously celebrated at Kendrapara, Dhenkanal & Choudwar from the full moon day of Kartik. Famous Fair & Festival of Odisha

Deepavali & Kali Puja – Deepavali & Kali Puja of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and other towns of Odisha are held on the dark new moon day of Kartik. Famous Fair & Festival of Odisha

Bali Yatra – The Bali Yatra of Cuttack is celebrated for a week from the day of the full moon day of Kartik. Besides the above festivals, numerous festivals are observed throughout the year in rural areas in favour of their deities and have their typical performance representing the social, cultural & religious life.

Nua Khai- This festival is celebrated mostly in Western Odisha. On this day in the second week of September, people eat the product of their field which they have produced at their field. Famous Fair & Festival of Odisha

Ramanavami – Rama Navami is observed on the 9th day of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra in memory of the birthday of Sriram. Rama Mandir takes a magnificent look at Ramnavami Day. Devotees throng the premises to worship and offer their prayers to Sri Ramchandra..

Biswakarma Puja- The Mechanics, Artisans, Workers Labourers. worshipped Lord Biswakarma, the Lord of the creator in September at their factory, machines and tools etc.

Kumar Purnima- Kumar Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day after Dussera by the girls of Odisha. Girls worship Lord Kartik for getting a handsome groom.

Janmashtami- Janmashtami falls on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of Sravan. Janmashtami is celebrated with much pomp and ceremony in Krishna Balaram temple.

Ashokastami – Ashokastami is the celebration of the car festival of the Lord Lingaraj. It is celebrated on the 8th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra (March- April). Chandrasekhar, the proxy of Lord Lingaraj, Rukmini and Basudeva are driven in a wooden chariot to the Rameswar temple, about two km from the Lingaraj temple and returned after four days of stay with Mausi Maa.

Chaiti Parba – Jhamu Yatra is the most important festival of Goddes Mangala at Kakatpur and some other Shakti Pitha in Odisha during the month of Chaitra (April) The Danda Nata, Patua Nata, Jhamu Nata(walking on fire) and Ghoda Nata (Horse dance) are an interesting sight of the festival.

Magha Saptami – Magha Saptami falls on the 7th day of the bright fortnight of Magha. A large fair is held at the Khandagiri hill for seven days, commencing from Magha Saptami. Several Jatra parties perform their plays during this far, and a huge market temporarily runs here. People from all over the state come here to see this fair.

12 months 13 Festivals of Odisha

Dhanu Yatra – Dhanu Yatra is the important festival of western Odisha at Bargarh. It is held during the month of Pousha for 11 days. The main theme of this festival is the exhibition of the characteristics of Mahabharata.

Chandan Yatra – It is held at Puri for 2 days from the 3rd day of the bright fortnight of Baishakha (April – May) and some other temples of Radha­ Krishna in Odisha. The image of Jagannath and other deities is taken in a stately cruise in the Narendra tank every day at Puri.


Sitala Sasthi Yatra – Sitala Sasthi Yatra is celebrated at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur famous in Odisha for the gorgeous procession of Lord Shiva and Parvati on the 6th day of the bright fortnight of Jyestha. (May-June). It is the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva with Parvati.


Snana Yatra – Bathing festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri held on the full­ moon day of Jyestha (May-June).


Raja Parba – It is an important festival of Odisha and is observed for 3 days on the occasion of Raja Sankranti in the month of Asadha (in June).


Sri Gundicha Yatra – Sri Gundicha Yatra is the famous car festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri which is held on the 2nd day of the bright fortnight of Asadha (June-July).


Jhulan Yatra – Jhulan Yatra is held at Puri for the preceding five days of the full moon day of Shravan (July-Aug) and other places in Odisha in the temple of Radha-Krishna. Besides it is also celebrated in Mathas (monastery) Bhagabat Tungis with much pomp and ceremony.


Ganesh Puja – Ganesh Puja is held on the 4th day of the bright fortnight days of Bhadrab (August) (September). This festival is very special for students.


Durga Puja – Durga Puja as in other prominent cities like Cuttack in Odisha and Kolkata in West Bengal, Durga Puja is also organised here in different places of the city. The city adds a special flavour to it while huge idols of goddess Durga on elegantly designed Meddhas adorn elaborately decorated mandapas. On the day following ‘Vijaya Dasami’. The images are taken in processions either to Sahid Nagar, Nayapalli, Jharpada, Rasulgarh, Baramunda, Chandrasekharpur, Bomikhal, Ganga Nagar, Laxmisagar, VSS Nagar, Chauliaganj mandap, Balu Bazaar, Badambadi-Shankarpur, Bajrakabati Samanta Sahi, Choudhury Bazar, Telanga Bazar, Buxi Bazar, Khan Nagar and Ranihat Puja Mandap. Durga Puja festival is a celebrated fortnight of Ashwin (Sept.-Oct) at Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and other Shakti Pithas of Odisha
Arkadev Puja (Chandrabhaga Yatra) -Arkadev Puja or Chandrabhaga Yatra is held at Konark on the 7th day of the bright fortnight of Magha (Jan-Feb) to worship the Sun god. This festival continued for 3 days.

Shivaratri – Shiva Ratri is called Jagar Yatra is observed in each Shiva temple of Odisha on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Falgun (Feb-Mar). Devotees observed fasting throughout the night and worshipped Lord Shiva.
Dola Yatra and Holi Parba- Dola Yatra is the main festival of Hindus in which people worship Radha and Krishna but Holi Parba is observed irrespective of caste & creed.


Makar Sankranti – Makar Parba which is called Makar Sankranti is observed during the month of Magha by all selection of Hindus irrespective of tribal and non-tribal. It has been observed gorgeously in tribal areas for more than a week. This Parab is celebrated at Atri in Bhagamari (Khordha) and Kalijai an island in Chilika with pomp and ceremony.

Kartika Purnima – Kartika Purnima On the last day of the auspicious month of Kartika, that is on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, people in huge numbers gather in Old Town to take a dip in the holy waters of Bindusagar and float their toy boats made of the outer layer of banana trees of sola pith with lighted lamps fixed to them to commemorate the glorious past of maritime trade of Odisha.