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Fairs & Festivals of Orissa |
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Sitala
Shashti
This particular festival strictly
prevalent among the Brahmins of Orissa is
generally observed in Brahmin villages,
popularly known as Sasans or in towns where
Brahmins are more in number.
It is believed that Shiva or Hara became
furious after Jagara Amavasya and He was
cooled down only by marriage with Parvati. So,
this marriage festival of Shiva and Parvati is
called Sital (cool) Shasthi and is held on the
sixth day of the bright fortnight of the month
of Jyestha.
Since the days of yore Orissa has been a seat
of Shaivism. Bhubaneswar itself has about five
hundred Shiva temples dating back from 6th-7th
century A.D. In the early temples of
Bharateswar and Parsurameswar there are
elaborate scenes of Shiva's marriage with
Parvati. It is therefore believed that this
festival of Shiva's marriage is very ancient
and is being carried down through centuries
past.
In most Brahmin villages of Orissa there are
temples of Shiva, Parvati and Vishnu. During
this festival the elderly Brahmins of the
village act as the parents of the bride (Parvati)
and the bride-groom (Shiva) and all
formalities of a Brahmin marriage are
observed. In analogy with the
society-marriages where somebody acts as a
mediator, here, Vishnu, the God Himself takes
the role. At first a proposal (written on
palm-leaf) is sent from the bride's side to
the bride-groom's father through Sevak who
also carries Mahaprasad (Food offering of Lord
Jagannath), coconut, betelnut, and a piece of
new cloth as prevalent in marriage customs.
With him goes a procession of torch-bearers,
drummers and pipers. Thereafter, on the fifth
day (Panchami) at past mid-night Parvati goes
to the temple of Shiva in a procession where
the marriage takes place with all vedic
formalities. After the marriage is over a
feast is arranged in which the Sevayats from
both the sides participate. The real festival
takes place next day in the night when the
marriage procession is taken out with pomp and
grandeur. The images of Parvati and Vishnu are
carried in a richly decorated palanquin (vimana)
heading the procession. Shiva, seated on a
bull follows them on a bullock cart. At
cross-roads and important places the
procession halts and there is lavish display
of fire-works, dancing, drumming and various
other kinds of merry-making.
Though this festival is held in the temples of
Loknath at Puri, Lingaraj at Bhubaneswar and
in most of the important Brahmin villages, it
is observed in a grand scale at Sambalpur
where two groups of Brahmins exhibit rare
enthusiasm to organise it with keen
competitive spirit. During the procession
lavishly decorated tableus are brought out.
Traditional and local dance and music parties
are engaged to move with the procession.
Varieties of fire works are displayed. Each
group tries its utmost to excel the other in
every respect. The procession terminates at
the respective temples and the festival ends.
On this day the town of Sambalpur wears a
festive look. Thousands of people congregate
from different parts of the district to
witness the deities in procession. In the
Puranas it has been said that one is expiated
of all sins if he sees the Gods in procession.
Therefore, there is a natural attraction for
the common villagers to see the mounted
deities in procession.
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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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