One famous Hindu Festival celebrated in Odisha- Samba Dashami

Samba Dashami- a unique festival of Odisha which falls on 10th day of Pausha masa(Month). On this day mothers wake up early morning and wear the new sarees and pray to Lord Surya for the health of their children and family. 

Samba Dashami

Due to Mythology, Samba, Son of Lord Krishna was in trouble by leprosy and was cured by the sun God Lord Surya after 12 years punishment near Konark. From that day people visit sun temple or in front of tulsi plant make the alpana of Lord Surya and pray for the well being of the family.

Happy Samba Dashami to all.

World Famous Dhanu Yatra at Bargarh Odisha.

Dhanu Sankranti marks the day when Lord Sun enters in Dhanu Rashi(Sagittarius). That's the way it is celebrated on the first day of Lunar Pousha masa(month).This month is considered as the month of plenty.

Dhanu Muan

On this day Lord Surya is worshipped. Devotees take a dip in sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and Godavari. This festival is celebrated with a great way in Shree Lord Jagganath Temple Puri Odisha. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Mother Shubhadra worshipped on this day. Hence, after collecting the new harvest a festival is organized and people made a specially sweetened rice flakes called Dhanu Muan which is Offered to Lord Jagannath.

A street Play held on this day in Bargarh that describes the various episodes of Lord Krishna's Childhood Life. One of the most Important episodes is on Krishna's visit to Mathura for the Bow ceremony which was organized by Kansa and it is the time of Dhanu Yatra. Kansa Want to kill Lord Krishna at this time. This festival show from the Lord Krishna birth to the killing of the demon by him. During this festival, Bargarh is known as Mathura.

This festival celebrated from Pusha Shukla Sasthi to Pousha Purnima and it goes for ten to eleven days Continuously. The world famous Dhanu Yatra held at Bargarh.

Ghodalagi Besha of Lord Jagannath in winter season.

In winter season every one feels cold, but our Lord Jagannath feels cold in winter season. During the period from Margasira Sukla Sasthi Tithi(6th day of the bright fortnight in margasira) to Magha Sukla Panchami Tithi(5th day of bright fortnight in Magha means Basanta Panchami) deities wear winter clothes. That is called Ghodalagi Besha.

Ghodalaggi  Besha

Every day the deities of Shree Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri are draped in cotton and Khandua Silk fabrics, Gold ornaments, flowers, Tulsi Leaves and sandal paste. There are 32 Beshas of Lord Jagannath in a year.

Bata Osha(Danda Pahanra) festival celebrate in odisha.

Today is Bata Osha or Danda Pahanra Which is celebrated in Odisha in the month of Pousha(December). In this Puja, God Yama is the presiding Deity. 

This festival is all about worshipping Lord Yama, the jolly pot-bellied God in black. Womens wear the new clothes and do the puja at the junction of four roads by praying for the well being of their husbands and children whenever they travel.

On this day a special sweet dish prepared called Budha Chakuli and offer to Lord Yama. 

Margashira Laxmi Puja in odisha.

Manabasa Gurubar Maa Lakshmi Vrata is observed during gurubar or Thursdays in the month of Margasira masa. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Thursdays during Margashirsh Month (November – December) in Odisha with rituals.

From early periods Margasira month is also known as Margashirsha Masha, which is the favorite month for Goddess Laxmi. On The month of Margasira gurubar(Thursday) day, women clean their houses before the day and keep them neat and put various jhoti or Chitta in front of their house to welcome Laxmi maa. They wake up early in the morning and perform ritual bath wear the White with Red border saree and start Lakshmi Puja by reading the Maha Laxmi Puran Book and offer various sweets to maa on this day Like Manda pitha, Suji Kakara, Kheer, and Kichdi.

There is a great story about Maha Laxmi Puran which is written in the 15th century by the Great Poet Balarama Dasa.

Significance of Badaosha puja in odisha.

Bada Osha is one of biggest and greatest OSHA of all time in Odisha. This festival observed in the month of November Kartika Maasa or Kartika Sukla Trayodashi every year. 

Lord Nageswar Temple Odisha Dhenkanal

On this special day women's wear the New saree, take the fast from the before the day that is called Ekbar(means one time to eat rice) and on that day full fasting. In every Saiba Pitha devotees visit the temple and prepare the delicious sweet dish called "Gaja Bhoga" and "Ghora". Gaja Bhoga Looks Like white rasagolla, and this sweet dish is related to the Lord Name Dhabaleswar Baba, in Odisha Dhabala means white. First, the prasad offer to Lord Shiva and distribute to devotees. Lakhs of devotees come to the Dhabaleswar temple and every Lord Shiva temple.

"Panchuka" Kartika Maasa Odisha Festival.

Odisha is Known as the Temple City and it is deeply rooted in culture and Traditions. People of Odisha celebrate all the festivals as per the Hindu Calender. From previous Old age, people are saying "Bara Masa Tere Parba"(thirteen festivals in twelve months) are celebrated in Lord Jagannath Land. 

Panchuka Rangoli

In Hindu Calendar the holiest month are Baisakh, Asadha, Kartika, and Margasira. Kartika Maasa Starts from the next day of Kumar Purnima which marks the end of Aswini Maasa. On the month of Kartika, every day people take the bath from early morning 4 AM and regular visit to the nearest temple. As per tradition people only eat the vegetarian food item.

The last five days of the month is called Panchuka and the very last day of these five days is celebrated as Kartika Purnima. These five days devotees make the food without onion and garlic during Kartika maasa. On the time of Panchuka, even a crane(Fish Hunting Bird) does not eat fish during Panchuka!

Early in the morning Married women take the bath and wear the puja cotton sarees and draw the beautiful rangoli design around the chaura(tulsi Plant) during Panchuka.

Dhabalamukhi besha of Maa Samaleswari on Mahalaya.

Everyone knows about western Odisha which is famous for sambalpuri saree and the presiding deity of Sambalpur maa Samalei.  Maa Samaleswari gives darshan to the devotees in blood red sindur avatar but on the special auspicious occasion of Sradha Mahalaya Maa gives darshan in this white-faced cool avatar that is popularly known as “Dhabalamukhi Besa” or “Whitefaced avatar” or “Ganga Darshan”. Thousands of devotees come to Maa samalei temple.

Dhabalamukhi Besha of Maa Samalei.

Maa Samaleswari’s Dhabalamukhi Besa is the creation from the combined shakti of Maa Saraswati, Maa Mahakali, and Maa Maha Laxmi. One day before Sradha Mahalaya Maa gives darshan in Sati Besa to her devotees. Maa lives in this white avatar for 2 days. It is also believed that the person who gets the opportunity to have darshan of Maa is lucky and gets blessings of Maa. Devotees take the fasting from the next day for Navratri puja. In every Sakti pitha Navratri puja held for nine days.

Jyeshtha Gauri Puja in Maharastra.

In Maharastra, Gauri Puja means to worshipped Goddess Parvati(Gauri). Ganesh Chaturthi is the Main Festival for the Maharashtrians, and Goddess Parvati also puja with great pomp and show.  It is a great festival in Maharastra where only women can do the puja.

Gauri Puja

On the previous day of the puja, Gauri Idol brought inside the house and then decorated with traditional Silk saree and bridal jewelry like bindi, bangles, necklace, etc. All female get together and wear traditional handloom silk saree and pray to Maa Parvati for good wishes of their home and young girls keep whole day fast for getting the better husband.

On this Special Day, Women offer various types of fruits like coconut, and special dish. On the Next day, Gauri Visarjan takes place with full pomp and Show.

Today is Radha Astami festival.

Today is Radha Ashtami festival, and people celebrated as birth Anniversary of Goddess Radha, the consort of  Lord Krishna. It falls on the eighth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadraba.

Goddess Radha.

On this day devotees of Lord Krishna keep fast on Radha Ashtami day and wear real traditional clothes and visit the nearest Lord Krishna Temple. Peoples offer Dhoop, Incense Sticks, Kumkum, Roli, flower, fruits, sweets and beautiful Shringar items to the idols. 

According to Mythology, When Lord Vishnu took avatar as Lord Krishna in the earth, Goddess Laxmi appeared as Radharani. This day marks as Radhaastami or Radhajayanti.

Odisha People celebrate Nuakhai Festival Today.

Nuakhai means the festival of Harvest, and in Odisha, people celebrate it with full spirit and in a great way.

Nuakhai Festival.

The Name " Nuakhai" is a combination of two words they are "Nua, " and "Khai" Nua means New and Khai means food. When the Word put together, it comes Nuakhai. On this Special, Day Women's take a bath from the morning and wear new Various design's of western Sambalpuri clothes and worshipped the new grains which taken from the land to Goddess Samaleswari to whom the festival is dedicated and make delicious sweets in this new grain. This festival is celebrated on the lunar fortnight in Bhadrapada months, the day after Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Today is Varalakshmi Vratam 2017 Pooja.

Varalakshmi Vrat 2017 is today and women across these south Indian states will dress up traditionally to celebrate this festival and take fast for getting the blessing of Maa Lakshmi.

Varalaxmi Pooja.

Every year in the month of Shravan( Monsoon season) on Friday preceding the full moon night( Purnima), married women in South India, Maharastra, and Odisha observe the Varalakshmi Vrata. This year this puja falls on Friday 4th August means today. The fasting and worshipping are done mainly by the married women for good wishes of their family.

On this day married women wear the traditional silk saree and decorate with golden jewelry and take fast until the end of the pooja in the evening. On this day Goddess Laxmi is worshipping in 8 avatars, Goddess of wealth(Shri), Earth(Bhu), Learning(Saraswati), Love(Priti), Fame(Kirti), Peace(Shanti), Pleasure(Tushti), And Strength(Pusthi). Finally all puja complete in all rituals and take the blessing of Lakshmi Maa.

Today is "Nag panchami" festival.

Nag Panchami is a religious festival of Hindus on which people feed serpents or snakes with milk, kheer, and sweets. Snakes are believed to be the creature hailing from patal- lok which incarnated for the goodness and welfare of living things.

The Hindu festival celebrated on the fifth day of a bright half lunar month of the Hindu month Shravan. On the day of Nag Panchami puja, people wear new traditional saree, dress and worship snake by offering milk, sweet, kheer and lit the earthen lamp as well before the idol or statue of Nag devatas. Some people observe fast the entire day and feed Brahmans with full rituals. 

On this day people believed that the snakes live inside the womb of the earth and we could not harm while doing so. The unique attraction is in some places snake fair is held.

Rakshabandhan- Festivals of Brotherhood.

Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival which describes the brotherhood and Love. This festival is celebrated on the full moon of Shravan month. 

The word Raksha means protection, and Bandhan ways to tie. Traditionally, during the festival sisters tie a rakhi made of red and golden threads, around their brother's wrists to celebrate their relationships. This thread bonding not only strengths the bond of love between brother and sister but also bind the relation of all family members.

Girl's  are trying to but Rakhi.

The celebration of Raksha Bandhan marked about happiness and excitement, especially for young girls and women. On this particular day, the festivities start by the day break. Every young girl wears the new Silk Saree or Salwar suit and gets ready early and gather for the worship of the deities. After taking the blessings of God's, the sister performs brother arti with tika and Rice on his forehead and ties Rakhi by chanting mantras. Then she gives sweets and gifts. Brother accepts her gifts and vows to take care of her in the time of need. He gives a return gifts to his loving sister. All family members celebrate this festival by tasty dishes, sweets, gifts, roaming to their relatives. Any Indian festival is incomplete without this.

The Rath Yatra: One Of India’s Most Fascinating Festivals.

Millions of devotees have an great desire to pull the "deities" chariots in Badadanda, Puri odisha. People believe that by pulling the chariots or by devotion to the Lord  destroys their sins committed knowingly or unknowingly.

Puri Rath Yatra.

 Lord Jagannath chariot is known as Nandighosa which is forty- five feet high and forty five feet square at the wheel level. The Chariot of Lord Jagannath made of Sixteen Wheels and ornamented with a cover made of Yellow and red color cloth. The chariot of Lord Balarama is known as Taladhwaja which is forty- four feet high with fourteen wheels and the palm tree on its flag. And the chariot of Goddess Shubhadra is known as Dwarpadalana, forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, decorated with a covering of red and black cloth.

"Alarnath Temple Also Known as Lord Jagannath Temple"

Lord Alarnath temple is situated in Brahmagiri. The temple is just around 25 km from Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri odisha. When the public darshan of the Lord Jagannath in the main temple at Puri remain closed for a fortnight for Anavasara, lakhs of devotees visit to the Alarnath temple at Brahmagiri. Anavasara is the two weeks period when Lord Jagannatha takes rest in isolation from the rest of the world after suffering from fever due to the annual bathing festival called debasnana purnima. It is a small temple. Lord Alarnath is a four-armed Vishnu deity with Sankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma. 

Lord Alarnath

During Anavasara period Mahaprabhu Chaitanya visited puri but could not see Lord Jagannath. As he was disappointed but Lord Jagannath give the Indication to visit Lord Alarnath temple. On his visit he was praying god on a stone and that stone kept inside the temple and called as prema- sila.

Snana Yatra at Puri Jagannath Temple held on 9th June 2017.

The Snana Yatra or Snana Purnima is a bathing festival which celebrated on the Purnima (full moon day) of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha month. It is an important festival of the Lord Jagannath devotees. This is the first occasion or First festival in a year as per the Hindu calendar, when the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Maa Subhadra,Lord Sudarshan, and Lord Madanmohan are brought out from the Jagannath Temple (Puri) and taken in a procession to the Snana Bedi or Snana Mandap. The water for the whole event will be collected from the well located near northern gate of the temple. Bathing rituals will be performed with 108 vessels of water and decorated for a public audience with the devotees. 

Lord Jagannath .

It is a belief among devotees of Lord Jagannath that if they make a pilgrimage to see the deity on this day, they would be cleansed of all of their sins. Lakhs of devotees visit the temple on the occasion to visit Mahaprabhu Lord Jagannath. Later the deities were decorated in Sada Besha with new clothes.

Sabitri Brata puja of odisha.

The 'Amavasya' (last day of the dark fortnight) in the month of 'Jyestha' is known as "Savitri Amavasya" or "Savitri Brata". This day is most auspicious for the married Hindu women they wear the new various types of sarees and decorate it'self with various ornaments for their husbands well wishes. They observe the brata it as a vow with great devotion and pray for the long life of their husbands.

Things Needed for sabitri puja.

Chandana Yatra of Lord Jagannath(puri) at Narendra Tank .

Chandan Yatra, is a great religious festival which held in puri. This festival starts from Akshyaya Trutiya and lasts for twenty one days. The name of this festival is very symbolic as sandal paste popular known as chandan and water. This festival is held in the month of Baisakh,a time when the summer heat is at peak, but sandal paste and water are essential to keep the people cool.

Chandan Yatra at Narendra Tank

Thousands of devotees flock the land of Lord Jagannath for this festival. During the festival, the road from the Lord's shrine till Narendra Sarobar (a sacred tank in Puri town) is decorated very beautifully. Devotees take the decorated images of Lord jaannath, Maa Laxmi and Maa Saraswati to the Narendra Sarobar at night in decorated palanquins. Lakhs of devotees wait for the arrival of Lord. After arrival the idols are placed on the decorated boats. The boats are rowed for a long time by the sevakas.

Budhi Thakurani and Thakurani Jatra of Berhampur.

The Famous Festival of the Silk city(Berhampur) is Thakurani Yatra, one of the biggest festivals of Southern odisha and celebrated with a great pomp.

Budhi Thakurani is considered as the Ista Devi of Silk city, as a child feels safe in mother Lap like this every single person believed to Maa Thakurani. Budhi Thakurani temple is situated in old Berhampur. A huge number of devotees visit the temple and worship to the deity inside the shrines is a piece of stone and completely smeared with sindoor. Specially the Goddess was worshiped by the weaver community.

Chaitra Navratri or Basanti Navratri 2017.

Everyone knows about Navratri festival, but in a year two times Navratri festival comes that is called "Chaitra Navratri" and "Saradiya Navratri". Chaitra Navratri is starting from 28 March 2017(Tuesday) and will be celebrated till 5th April 2017(Wednesday). It will be started with Ghatsthapana puja at the special muhurat time of morning.

Speical devotees wear the pure silk pata saree , dhoti and clean the puja temples in home with purity. On this time devotees will keep busy themselves in diffrent rituals at the time of navratri festival like puja, recite mantras, chat bhajans and keep fasting. At the time of Navratri Goddess durga worship for Nine days.

Happy Navratri Puja.

Ekadashi : Rituals of Ekadashi Vrat

The word Ekadashi festival has been derived from the Sanskrit language, where ekadashi means the eleventh day of Hindu Calendar. There are 24 ekadashis in a year. 

Lord Krishna

Rituals of the day:

1. On the day of Ekadashi, idol of Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu are worshipped. In the morning, devotees wear the pure handloom silk pata clothes and clean the idol with Panchamrit. After the idol is washed with water and dressed in Yellow silk clothes that is called Pata bastra.

2. Flowers, incense sticks, Ghee deepak, Coconut, and various types of fruits offered to Lord Krishna and his various Avatars.

3. Several devotees donate various foodgrains, handfans, clothes, gold and several puja items to the temple on ekadashi vrat.

4. On the day of ekadashi , food items made of rice are not eaten only fruits can be eaten. On the next day items made of rice can be eaten. 

5. Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna mantras are chanted throughout the day and people visit the temple on morning and evening for Aarti.

6. By taking fast in ekadashi vrat helps a person to reach the path of spirituality and takes her /him to the path of salvation.

Ja shree Krishna.

Maa Kalijai Temple, Balugaon, Chilika, Puri.

Maa Kalijai Temple is situated on a Island. It is 18 km away from Balugaon in south east direction. Kalijai Means Kali+Jai, Kali, the goddess kali( an avatar of Goddess durga) and Jai  is a name of a village  girl of Banpur, who was drowned when she visit to parikuda Gada(sasural).

Maa Kalijai

When she visit to her sasural by her traditional boat an accidental storm come with deep cloud and drowned the boat by the hill and vanished. All the boatman and her father was alive but the girl jai was undiscovered.
Since then many boatmen listen some voice in the early evening and she became the Goddess of the Local people. But every odia people respected as maa Goddess kali. Every fisherman worshiping as Goddess kalijai as their "Ista Devi". Ista means who manages all the Good and Bad Times. Every day several tourist come to visit kalijai temple and take the blessing of maa kali.

When you reach temple several people offer coconut, Banana, and khai and Black saree to maa. At the time when you sit on boat people call to Maa Kalijai with loud voice to keep safe journey to reach temple and their destination place. That place is known as chilika. On Winter season the Great poet written comes to write various poet for children and beautiful Migratory birds come. It is a wonderful place full of nature and beauty. Every Year a Huge mela held on Makar sankranti festival. 

Tara Tarini temple of Ganjam, Odisha.

Tara Tarini Temple is one of the sakti peetha , which is loacted in Rajpura, Ganjam District of odisha at a height of 708 feet. Tara tarini temple is one of the oldest and ancient tantra pitha of odisha. Skakti Peetha is a place where Goddess Shakti(goddess of harmony) and also called as Goddess Durga  "goddess of strength"  and Goddess Kali(goddess of evil) worshiped.

Speciality of temple.

Tara Tarini temple is known as main shakti peethas and Tantra Peethas of odisha. The Goddess Tara and Tarini is the presiding deity in every house of south odisha, a statue made of gold and silver ornaments. Two brass heads are placed in between the idols of Goddess tara and Goddess Tarini representing as their Living image. People Believed that Mother Tara Traini is the Living God and she helps them in any obstacle comes. Many devotees comes to the temple for their Well wishes and several devotees gives new silk saree to wear mother sati in any special festival. Due to mythology Lord shiva had dance of "Rudra Tandava" means (destruction) carrying the burning body of goddess sati after goddess sati's self - immolation. 

Maa Tara Tarini Temple

To stop the dance of destruction performed by Lord shiva, Lord vishnu threw his "Sudarshan Chakra" on Maa sati's body which divided her body into 52 parts. Each body parts of Goddess sati fell on different places of earth and on that place Adi Shakti pithas are built. It is believed that the breast of goddess sati fell at the kumari hills where Tara Tarini temple is located.

There are 51 famous sakti peethas in the religous books. But the four major Adi Shakti peethas are:

1. Bimala temple

2. Tara Tarini Temple

3. Kamakhya Temple

4. Kalighat Kali temple

On this temple various types of festival is celebrated in a great way. Like Sankranti mela, Dola purnima, Chaitra Parba, Dusshera, Deepavali, and so many festivals.

Rituals of Dola Purnima Festival in Odisha celebrated before Holi.

Dola Purnima is a Great festival in odisha. On this day Lord Jagannath is worshiped as the name of Dolagovinda in this festival. It falls on full moon day in the month of falguna. People enjoyed this festival with fun and happiness. 

On this special day villagers take the krishna murti in dola and  roaming every house in night, with great procession by the music of drummers, pipers and the sankirtana mandalis, people believed that god comes to their house for taking prasad, so they clean their house front with cow dung and make special alpana to welcome Krishna and offer various types of fruits.

In various Puranas Dola purnima or Madanamohana describe in various way.

Happy Dola Purnima.

Mahashivratri 2022: How to perform the puja at home and on temple.

Maha Shivaratri Puja is an exclusive way to worship Lord Shiva. In 2022 it will be celebrated on 1st March . Get a simple puja vidhi on Maha Shivaratri puja at your home. Due to covid-19 do puja in your home with full bhakti and sraddha. 

1. On Shivratri day gets up early, take holy bath and wear clean New Clothes like yellow, white, red and different color but don't wear black.

Holy bath on Shivaratri day purifies our body and soul. So, try to take bath in Ganga or nearby river. 

2. Take vow or Pratigya to observe full day fast and to break it on the next day or in the night when mahadeep(light lamp) reached to the top of the temple.

3. Now perform Maha Shivaratri Puja. Worship Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati on this special maha Shivaratri puja.

4. The main ritual of Shiva puja is performing Abhishek of Shiva Lingam.

5. It can be performed by using milk, sandalwood paste, yogurt, honey, ghee, sugar, and water. 

6. You must perform this simple puja at home or in nearest shiv temple to please Lord Shiva.

7. Offer Dhatura, Gangasuili flower, Bilva leaves, Bilva fruit, Akshat, flower, sandalwood paste and vibhuti to Shiv lingam.

8. You can also offer Ber or jujube fruit coconut, Banana, Sweets, betel leaves, incense sticks.

9. Light Ghee lamp and Dhupa. Keep chanting Om Namah Shivaya mantra or Shree Shivaya Namastubhyam.

10. Finally, perform Shiva Aarti and read 108 names of Shiva.

11. Visit a nearby Shiva temple and seek blessings.

12. Maha Shivaratri Puja should be done during the night also.

13. Stay awake at night in the temple and spent the time chanting Shiva prayers and try to listen Shivmahapuran katha online. Try to listen Pujya Guruji Pandeet Pradeep Mishra ji live Shivmahapuran katha and take the blessings of Baba bholenath.

14. Next day morning break your fast after taking bath. 

13th - Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav 2017

In Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav you can see different types of Arts and cultural dance forms at one place. This event is too much popular for the tourist. Many tourist comes from every corner to visit odisha every year at the time of Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav to see the wonderful experience of this traditional event. 

Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav

In this event every tourist wears the colorful traditional clothes and looks like some holi colors are spreading on the floor.. 

Chandrabhaga fair or Magha Saptami festival.

Magha Saptami is an important festival which is dedicated to Lord surya, the sun god in Hinduism. This festival is specially observed on the seventh day of the shukla paksha of magha month. On this day people take the holy dip on sunrise. This beautiful and colorful festival held at Chandrabhaga and a grand fair held at khandagiri near Bhubaneswar on that day  which continue for seven day. Millions of devotees take a dip in the holy river that's way it is called magha masa buda or Chandrabhaga fair.

Magha Saptami

Sheetal shashti puja of West Bengal

The day after saraswati puja festival is a customary for Bengals to eat a special dish called Gota Sheddho( Which means Whole Boiled). Gotta Sheddho means the vegetables are not cut and boiled with a wholegrain dal. It is very good for health and cooked without spices, oil, onion or garlic. Main tradition of this puja is that whatever boiled on the day of saraswati puja or Vasanta panchami , it will eaten on the next day by mothers. This ritual is mainly observed by the Bengali mothers wishing for long healthy life of their children.

Sitala Maa

Shitala Mata is the form of goddess Katyayani( a part of Durga Maa). Worshiping her gives coolness and relief from fever, measles and small pox. On this day mothers wear the new cotton sari and perform the puja rituals and family members enjoy the boiled prasad.  

First Puri Beach Carnival Festival.

The Puri Beach Carnival festival is a celebration of the art, craft, culture, sports, cuisines and other aspects of tourism of Orissa. On a single platform witness the cultural heritage of not just Orissa but from other states. The Puri beach carnival starts from January 20th to January 26th.

Beach Carnival Festival Puri
Image: eodisha.org

Paush purnima festival celebrated in odisha at Lord Jagannath Temple

Pushyabhishek or Paush purnima is an important festival and performed at the world famous Lord Jagannath temple in odisha in paush month or paush masa. Paush purnima held on  January 12th. This festival is observed on paush purnima or the full moon day in the month of January. Several devotees come to puri for the darshan of the three deity . On this day Lord Jagannath , Balabhadra and Mother Shubhadra wears the New Khandua Silk sari and decorated with colorful flowers garland.

"Samudra Aarati" performed by Puri
 Jagadguru Sankaracharya.
Image Source: orissakhabara

There  is a belief that Lord Jagannath, Maa Shubhadra and Lord Balaram , other Gods, Goddess, Devas and saints assembled near the sea at puri. Therefore sea is worshiped on that day. On the day special pujas are observed  for peace and prosperity for all living beings on the earth.

MAKAR SANKRANTI CELEBRATION IN ODISHA

In Odisha "Makar Sankranti" or "Makar Mela" is celebrated in a very good way and with full rituals. Every People in home and on temples prepare the makara chaula (uncooked newly harvested rice, banana, coconut, jaggery, sesame,  Khai and chhena, sugar cane , adrak offer to gods and goddesses) this is an important festival of odisha. Therefore, this festival holds an important traditional cultural significance for peoples, so people like this festival and enjoy by celebrating it. All over India people fly the colorful kites in the sky on this festival. People wears the new clothes and pray to god for well wishes of their family.

In India this festival is celebrated in different names and in different states like chhattisgarh, Goa, Odisha, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, kerela, Madhaya Pradesh, Maharastra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Sikkim, west Bengal etc. In Tamil Nadu this festival is known as Pongal, and in Punjab it is called as Lohri. 

Love this festival too much. Happy Makar Sankranti.