Orissa is popular with tourists for its temple complexes,
glorious beaches, tribal traditions, spectacular waterfalls,
fertile river basins, lakes and wildlife sanctuaries. The
list is endless and also includes festivals like Holi, Diwali,
Dusshera, Mahashivratri etc. that are celebrated by India
as a whole. However, Orissa does have its signature festivals
that make your tour to Orissa during an ongoing festival a
memorable one. For, you'll take away images of unparallel
festivities when men in lakhs throng the streets and women
swing the whole day through.
Tourism of Central India offers you a chance to be one with
Orissa fanfare, with our specialized tour packages for festivals
in Orissa. Whether its is a religious festival, temple festival
or tribal one, you can count on Tourism of Central India to
make it possible for you and your family.
Festivals in Orissa that you ought to attend on your tour:
Rath Yatra
Makar Sankranti
Raja
Puri Beach Festival
Konark Dance Festival
Kalinga Mahotsav
Baliyatra in Orissa
Rath Yatra in Orissa
Held in the month of June, the car festival of Puri is the
journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Subhadra and Balarama
from the famous Jagannath temple to their maternal aunt's
temple of Gundicha. Here, they stay for nine days and then
return back to the Jagannath Temple on the tenth day with
the reversal of the ceremonial procedures. Thousands join
the festival and you too can pull the chariot with the other
devotees. It is believed that such a labor absolves you off
your sins and puts you on the path to salvation.
Other car festivals that you can attend include Chandan Yatra
(procession of idols from temple to temple over water boats
instead of chariots) and Ashokasthami ( four day car festival
of Lord Lingaraj from Rameswar Temple).
Makar Sankranti/ Makarmela in Orissa
Celebrated in the month of January, Makar Sankranti is a
festival dedicated to worshipping of the Sun God. It is especially
celebrated with passion and fervor at a few places in Orissa
that include Atri, Keonjar and Chilika.
Raja in Orissa
Held over a period of three days in the month of June, Raja
is a festival marked by young unmarried girls swinging on
rope swings, suspended from trees in their neighborhood, in
rhythm with the folk songs of Raja. This festival in Orissa
underlines mother earth's womanhood and like the young unmarried
girl, it is given a rest from agricultural works.
Puri Beach Festival in Orissa
A festival held especially for tourists from the 5th to
9th of November each year, Puri beach festival in Orissa gives
a comprehensive and quick guide into the celebrations, reverence
and enthusiasm that mark the thirteen festivals held in Puri
alone, all which center around Lord Jagannath.
Konark Dance Festival in Orissa
Using Konark Temple (world heritage site) as the backdrop
to the classical dance festival attended by leading performers
in all the classical dance forms, Konark Dance Festival is
as popular as the Khajuraho Dance Festival in Madhya Pradesh,
India and is held in the month of December. The open-air auditorium
flanked by palm groves acts as a platform to showcase the
varied cultural heritage of India, inspiring a deep nostalgic
feeling from the audience.
Baliyatra in Orissa
Bay of Bengal had been a popular trade route for the ancient
travelers and merchants to access the Indonesian Islands.
To commemorate the successful years of commercial sea journeys,
a festival called Baliyatra is held annually (around November
- December) on the Mahanadi River bank at Cuttack. Unmarried
girls also celebrate the same day of Karthik Purniam as a
day of worshipping moon for a handsome husband.
Tourism of Central India can also customize your tour to
the Festivals in Orissa to include other festivals and fairs
in Orissa such as Megha Mela, Maha Shivratri, Taratarini
Mela, Chaitar Parba, Dhanu Puja and Sitalasasthi.
Tourism of Central India offers specialized tour booking,
and travel packages for Festivals in Orissa. To book your
tour, or for more information, please fill the form below.
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