Dhanu Sankranti is the famous festival in odisha

Dhanu Sankranti marks the day when Sun enters in the Sagittarius or Dhanu Rashi. The festival falls on this year 16th December 2015 Wednesday.  Dhanu Sankranti marks the beginning of the ninth month in Hindu Solar Calendar.
This festival celebrate in God  Surya or the Sun God is worshiped.
Devotees take a dip in the sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Yamuna as it is considered a very auspicious ritual.
This festival is celebrated with great gusto in Orissa. Lord Jagannath is worshiped on this day. The month of Pousha is considered the month of plenty. Hence, after collecting the harvest a festival of celebration is organized. A special delicacy made of sweetened rice flakes Dhanu Muan is prepared which is offered to Lord Jagannath.
A street play is held on this day in the Bargarh town of Orissa that depicts the various episodes of Lord Krishna’s life. One of the episodes is based on Krishna’s visit to Mathura to witness the Bow ceremony organized by Kansa.  Kansa had invited Krishna and Balaram on the occasion of Dhanu Yatra with the evil intention of killing them. This annual festival showcases scenes right from Lord Krishna's birth to the killing of the demon by him.