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A large number of festivals
and fairs are celebrated in Orissa. These differ from
tribe to tribe, from caste to caste and also from region to region.
IMPORTANT FAIRS
Dandanata and Danda Jatra
Dandanata is derived from
'Danda' a pole and 'mata' a dance which is performed
in a fair called 'Danda Jatra'. This is celebrated in the month of Vaishaka
(April-May). This fair is celebrated through dance, song and physical feats and
the pole represents of Lord Shiva. The devotees are called 'Bhokta' and there are
thirteen in a 'Danda' party. The leader is 'Pata Bhokta' , who leads a life of abstinence
for twenty-one days prior to this festival. The Bhoktas move from village to village and perform
at a house only when invited. The Bhoktas roll on the hot sand in the mid-day
sun
of summer, dance, and sing praying for the welfare of house holder. Whether
someone in the family is childless or poor or suffering from some incurable
diseases, the householder usually vows to become a 'Bhokta' next time if his
miseries are removed.
The austerities and physical sufferings include walking on fire, piercing the
back with sharp nails, using poisonous snakes as garlands and making them sting
the body, piercing the tongue or walking on a sharp sword edge etc, apart from
fasting and abstinence. These are aimed in order to please and secure booms from
Lord Shiva.
Variations of
'Danda Jatra" are found in almost the whole of Orissa one
variation is Jhamu Jatra or Nian Patua consisting of walking on a trench of
fire, and the another one is 'Uda Jatra" or Uda Patna in which the
devotees are hooked from their back muscles and are swung high round a pole.
Chandan Jatra
This fair is celebrated for twenty-one days in the month of
'Jaishtha'
(May-June). When a smaller replica of Lord Jagannath is taken to the sacred tank
for boating after being smeared with 'chandan' or sandal wood paste. This is
aimed at providing cool comfort and relief from the summer heat. This is
celebrated at places where there is a Jagannath temple and a lot of merriment
goes with it when pilgrims congregate. The main centre of this fair is at Puri,
the celebrated 'shrikhetra'; the original seat of Lord Jagannath.
Bahuda Jatra
The return
'car festival' is celebrated in the beginning of the
month of Shravana (July-August)
Chandrabhaga Mela
The fair at Chandrabhaga begins on the seventh day of the
bright fortnight in the lunar month of Magha (January-February) and continues
for seven days. It is held at the mouth of sacred Chandrabhaga river near the
famous temple of Konarka. This sacred site figures in the myth of shamba of the
Mahabharata days who was cured of his leprosy by worshipping Lord Surya, the Sun
God. The Sun Temple of Konarka and the sacred site refer to the prevalence of a
strong solar cult in the coastal Orissa. It is believed that whoever takes a
bath in the Chandrabhaga will be cured of leprosy and bareness. Magh Saptami
mela is observed at the same time at the Join centre of Khandagiri, near
Bhubaneswer, for seven days.
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