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Fairs & Festivals of Orissa |
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Shamba
Dasami
The tenth day in the bright
fortnight of the month of pousha (Nov.-Dec.)
is known as Shamba Dasami. The day is
dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and is
peculiar to Orissa.
There is a legend attached to the festival
which tells about how and when the festival
came to be observed. It also finds mention in
the Shamba Purana. Shamba was the most
handsome son of Krishna who was also very
proud. He never paid any respect to his elders
and mostly spent his life in licentious
habits. Once he came across Narada, who is
revered by all Gods and Goddesses. But Shamba
didn't pay any respect to him. Instead he
played tricks. This enraged the sage. In order
to take revenge of this insult Narada made a
false allegation against him before his father
Lord Krishna that he had seen him in love-play
with Gopis who are to be respected like
mothers. Enraged with this Krishna cursed him
to be afflicted with leprosy. As a result
Shamba got afflicted with leprosy and lost his
handsome features which were his pride. Narada
never believed that the curse would be so
severe. He repented and then advised Shamba to
go to the Maitreya Bana to sit in penance to
receive the blessings of the Sun God who would
only cure him from this dreadful disease.
Shamba sat in penance for long twelve years.
Being pleased with his devotion the Sun God
cured him of the disease. The day Shamba was
freed from the disease is known as Shamb
Dasami. The day is observed as a festival to
propitiate the Sun God as the best healer of
diseases.
Maitreya Bana is identified with the present
site of Konarak where Shamba spent the rest of
his life worshipping the Sun God. Later,
considering the religious importance of the
place Langula Narasingha Deva, the mighty
Ganga ruler of Orissa built the famous shrine
of Sun God at Konarka in 13th century A.D.
This is another variant of the legend about
Shambara Dasami. It says that once Narada came
to Dwarka. There he found Rukmini the spouse
of Krishna to be morose and tearful. On
enquiry Rukmini disclosed that she gave birth
to a child as beautiful as Madana, the Cupid,
but he was abducted by a demon and since then
there is no end to her plight. Then Narada
consoled and advised her to pray Sun God to
get back her child. To arouse belief and
strength in her, he narrated another story
about the efficacy of such prayer. This tale
has it that there was a Brahmin in Arka
Kshetra (Konarak) named Goutama. He had three
beauitiful sons by his wife Padmamukhi. To his
ill luck all of them died one by one. His
grief-stricken wife attempted to commit
suicide. The Brahmin forbade her and then
persuaded her to pray Sun God. She sat in deep
penance praying the God. Being moved by her
devotion and, prayer the Sun God fulfilled her
desire and she was again blessed with
children. Narrating the story Narada advised
Rukmini to worship the Sun God accordingly.
She followed his advise and prayed the God
with utmost devotion. In the mean time, the
lost child Pradyumna killed the demon
Sambarasura who abducted him and came down to
his parents in a Veemana (aeroplane). Both
Krishna and Rukmini became overjoyed getting
back their son. According to this version, as
the demon Sambarasura was killed on this day,
the festival is known as Sambara Dasami.
This festival is mostly observed by the
elderly women who propitiate the SunGod to
keep their children free from all diseases.
Those who are childless also pray for childern.
On this day, the Sun God is invoked thrice.
Once in the morning, then at mid-day and
lastly in the evening, before the sun sets.
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Religious Festivals
Major Religious Festivals:
Mahashiva Ratri, Durga Puja,
Ganesha
Chaturthi, Lakshmi
Puja, Deepavali,
Dusserah,
Dola
Purnima (Holi),
Akshyaya Trutiya,
Gahma
Purnima,
Makara
Sankranti, Ashokashtami,
Nuakhai,
Basanta
Panchami, Hingula
Yatra, Prathamastami,
Baseli Puja,
Janmastami,
Raja
Sankranti,
Chaitra
Parba, Kartika Purnima,
Rama Navami,
Khudurukuni
Osa, Savitri Brata,
Dhanu Yatra,
Kumar
Purnima, Shamba
Dasami, Sital Shashti,
Magha
Saptami,
Visuva
Samkranti,
Viswakarma
Puja.
Jagannath Temple Festivals
Major
Jagannath Temple Festivals:
Rath Yatra,
Chandan
Yatra,
Devasnana Purnima,
Basanta
Panchami,
Chitou
Amavasya, Nava
Kalebara.
Special festivals
Major Special Festivals:
Puri
Beach Festival,
Konark
Festival,
Kalinga
Mahotsav,
Raja Rani
Music Festival,
Shreekstra
Utsav, Ekamra Utsav,
Dhauli Mahatsova,
Folk Dance Festival,
Khandagiri Festival,
Konark Dance & Music
Festival,
Parab
Festival
Tribal Festivals
Major Tribal Festivals:
Chaita Parva,
Karama
Festival, Bali Jatra,
Sume-Gelirak,
Bija Pandu,
Kedu Festival,
Maghe Parab
Fairs & Exhibitions
Major Fairs & Exibitions:
Bali
Yatra, Magha Mela,
Taratarini
Mela, Joranda Mela,
Makar Mela
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