Fairs and Festivals observed at Udayagiri and Khandagiri

Odisha is not only a land of magnificent monuments, golden beaches, sheer waterfalls, rambling lakes, hot springs, abundant forest, convoluted handicraft etc., but also a land of colourful fairs and festivals. Every season in Odisha has a variety of occasions to celebrate. Many of the festivals are observed at more than one place on the same occasion. While the rituals remain the same, the ways they are, observed differ from place to place at times. They unfold a vista of age old traditions and customs, rites and rituals, dances and delicacies. Most of the festivals are associated with the innumerable shrines or family traditions. Thus, the fairs and festival of Odisha are a sum total of the cultural heritage of Odisha^[1].

Khandagiri Mela / Kumbha Mela

Khandagiri mela alias Kumbha mela (Pls.XCVA-XCVB) is one of the oldest melas of Odisha held on the foothills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri^[2]. The colorful one week long fair is held at Khandagiri, on the lunar month of Magha (January and February). This cultural fair displays various types of local hand made products for sale. Large numbers of venders from different parts of the country gather at this mela to sell their products. The most notable thing about the Khandagiri mela is that in the night time under lighting of Lunar people celebrated it with great fervor. Many religious sadhus congregate here on the occasion. Market of household articles is an additional attraction for general public (Pls.XCVIA-XCVIC).

Kharavela Mahotsav

Odisha, being a land of sacred temples is thronged by pilgrims throughout the year where three age old and important religions flourished viz., Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. A large number of fairs and festivals are celebrated with pump and glory in the State. Some of them are seasonal and the Kharavela Mahotsav (Pl.XCVC) is one among them. Every year Department of Tourism & Culture in association with the Kalu Nanda Memorial Foundation, and Public Relation Department, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre and Song and Drama Division, Kolkata organize this Mahotsav at Udayagiri-Khandagiri hills^[3].

The festival, named after the great emperor Kharavela of the erstwhile Kalinga (2^nd century BCE), who was also a great patron of arts, dance and music^[4]. To promote tourism and to give a platform to the rich heritage of Odisha, the Kharavela Mahotsav is organized since 2000 CE. To entertain the tourists, cultural programmes are arranged on each evening throughout the festival. While the cultural troupes of the State perform Odishi, Sambalpuri, Chhow, Ghodanacha, and Shankhabadan as items of folk art shows; the participation by the various Central Government departments makes the festival even more lively and vivacious. Exhibition of Odisha’s handicraft and handlooms like stone wares, bell-metal utensils, and artifacts for interior decoration adds to the charm making the festival a buyers’ paradise. This festival is so pleasant that lakhs of visitors enjoy for a period of seven days^[5].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

B. Mishara, “Fairs and Festivals”, in A.N. Tiwary and et al. (ed.), Reference Odisha: Millennium Edition, Bhubaneswar, 2000, p.90.

[2]:

“Fairs and Festivals”, Orissa Reference Annual, 2011, pp.84-86.

[3]:

Web supplement: www.orissa.gov.in, visited on 26/02/2015,11.53pm.

[4]:

S.K. Das, “Growth and Prospects of Odisha Tourism: An Empirical Study”, Orissa Review, September, 2010, pp.125-134.

[5]:

Ibid.