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Fairs & Festivals of Orissa |
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Sume Gelirak
The Bondas of Koraput are an
interesting primitive tribe. They live on
hill-tops and lead a secluded life. Their
interaction with other tribes is very rare.
Among many festivals of the year, the most
important festival for them is known as
Sume-Gelirak. All the year young men and women
look forward to the festival as it gives them
ample freedom in all respects. The festival
starts on a Sunday and continue for ten days.
During the first few days they worship their
traditional Godlings and demons as well. The
Sisa or the tribal priest does the rituals of
sacrificing animals and birds and propitiating
the deities with liquor. Then amusement
through dancing and singing begins with full
vigour. Young men and women make dancing
expeditions to neighbouring villages and
during the dance choose their life partners.
But the most serious and dramatic part of the
festival is castingation. It begins first with
little boys. Some one takes up the drum and
beats it loudly and others join with him. The
boys stand in pairs, front to front, and
strike each other as hard as they can with
pliant branches of a tree stripped off its
foliage. When they had enough of it, they
salute each other and embrace, and another
pair takes their place. When all the boys of
the village complete this piquant exercise,
the Sisa gives them cakes to stop all quarrels
and delivers a little lecture of friendship
and good behaviour. The following evening this
castigation is repeated with young men and
even the old. They bow each other with folded
hands and start dancing to the frantic beats
of the drums and then hitting hard with the
branches. Blood flows from their wounds and
watching the situation the Sisa stops them.
Then they touch each others feet and embrace
hugging and lifting the other in the air.
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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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