Author: Dinabandhu Nayak
The state of Odisha is blessed with religious culture and traditions. It is as famous for its rich and exotic natural environment, lush green forests, eco friendly tourists spots as for its fairs and festivals observed. Odisha observes a huge range of festivals with great fervor and devotion, Akshaya Tritiya being one of them. This festival is also known by the names of Akti or Akha Teej, is an annual spring time festival of the Hindus and Jains. About Akshaya Trutiya Akshaya Trutiya falls on the third Tithi of Bright Half (Shukla Paksha) of Vaisakha month. It is observed regionally by Hindus and Jains in India and Nepal,.…
Kalinga, the region of the Indian state of Odisha had once Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav witnessed the bloodiest battles in the history of India under the reign of Emperor Ashoka of Maurya Dynasty. After understanding the pointlessness of his Kalinga victory, he became a different man. Upagupta, a Buddhist monk, supported him in attaining enlightenment. The Pagoda, a symbol of Buddhist legacy in the state Odisha is an enduring symbol of peace and harmony in the world, hence it’s often referred as the International Peace Pagoda. A three-day festival of Kalinga Mahotsav, which is also known as an exclusive festival of…
In Orissa, Sarhul is indeed one of the most popular tribal festivals. On the third day of the moon or the fortnight of ‘Chaitra’, the Sarhul festival in Orissa is celebrated and marks the start of the spring season or “Phaguna” and is celebrated until June or “Jeth.” Sarhul means trees’ worship. These tribes, being close to nature, commence the festival of Sarhul with the reverence of trees and many other elements of nature. As per many legends, the origin of the Sarhul festival dates back to the Mahabharata period. A sarna is a group of trees where on different…
The festive season in Odisha revolves around a never ending cycle and undoubtedly, a number of festivals, related to traditions and religious beliefs are encountered in the state. Holi is a major festival, celebrated all over India and has both religious and scientific aspects. Different states celebrate Holi in various manners. Like in Paschim Banga, Holi is an occasion showcasing dignity and charms of fashion. While the Punjabis celebrate the festival by displaying their bravery and dare devil skills. Also, in the state of Rajasthan, Holi is predominantly a festival for women and in Maharashtra, is celebrated with lot of…
Santhals of the Mayurbhanj district look forward to the Sohrai Parba cattle festival every year, which is also known as Bandhana. The festival is celebrated with great gusto by the Santhal tribe in the districts of Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj and also by Santhals from the surrounding states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. For the tribals in Mayurbhanj district, the festival, coinciding with the harvest of early varieties of paddy, is significant. The Santhals celebrate the festival while other Sohrai Parba cultures worship Goddess Kali, one day after the new moon (Amavasya) and it lasts for a fortnight. Sohrai…
To be honest we had to take a second trip since the footage taken was not long enough A Trip to The Unknown #2 the first time and editing has proved difficult as a third of the team was trapped across the state in a strike by lawyers. Fortunately all that is past us and we’re ready to resume normal service. Embark on a mesmerizing journey of discovery as you venture into the lesser-explored realms of Odisha, uncovering hidden gems and immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of its landscapes and culture. Welcome to “A Trip to The Unknown #2,”…
Of the numerous sites speaking of the beauty of Odisha, the Ancient Temple Under Water ancient temples have a distinctive place. The Kalinga architectural elegance with a vintage touch differentiates the temples of Odisha. The Sun temple in Konark, the Jagannath temple in Puri emerge as the unique buildings of the ancient era. Subsequently, a number of architectural sites and temples belonging to the ancient age were lost due to natural calamities and under the course of nature. Due to unavailability of necessary resources some of the ancient structures could not be reestablished. Recently, a 500 year old ancient Temple resurfaced …
The cause of you, I, he or she, everyone today is the womb of a woman who gave us birth. Everyone that has an existence on the earth roots from a mother. There is no word sweeter than Maa (mother). There is no place safer than a mother’s lap. Women, in Her every form Durga Puja s worship able. It is said that God could not be anywhere at any time, so He created mother. Our mythologies also describe the power of women. Definitely, women treat everyone sweetly. She adores all. But at times to save the innocent from the cruel, Maa always…
British entered into Odisha (then Orissa) in 1803 and ruled for more than 100 years. Utkal Divas At that time, Odisha was not a separate state but was under the control of British Provinces which included mostly Bengal Presidency, part of Bihar and Madras Presidency. It was almost impossible to address proper identity of Odia people, even a very few number of Odia people used to live in the state. To change everything in this world, the major and the foremost weapon is revolution. Some revolutionary men tried it hard to unite Odia people and formed the Orissa Province as…
Odisha has many renowned dance forms, like Odissi, Gotipua, Chhau, Ghumura and many more. Of them, Gotipua dance is one of the most peculiar dance forms still practised today. The worldwide acknowledged dance form of Gotipua originated in the cultural hub of Odisha, Puri. History says that the dance form emerged in the early 16th century. But what makes it unique is that its performers who are predominantly pre-pubescent boys (aged 3 to 12) are dressed in female attires. As most of the aspects of Odissi have been taken from the Gotipua dance, watching Gotipua dancers perform is an important…