Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Maa Varahi Temple of Chaurasi: Obscure and Beautiful

    March 6, 2022

    Kalinga War: The Victory of Amity over Violence

    March 6, 2022

    The Battle of Tukaroi: The End of The Bengal Sulanate

    March 6, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
    OdishaLifeStyle
    Subscribe Login
    • Home
    • Locations
      • Hidden Places
    • Culture
      1. Arts and Crafts
      2. Literature
      3. View All

      Pipili: Odisha’s Manual Of Applique Work

      February 8, 2022

      Terracotta and Odisha: Bonding Over Ages

      February 8, 2022

      Stone And Wood Carvings: A Tale Of Inseparable Beauty

      February 8, 2022

      Dhokra And Brassware: The Tribal Souvenirs Of Odisha

      February 8, 2022

      Mukteshwar Temple: Small and yet Significant

      February 8, 2022

      Odia Literature: From The Beginning to Now

      February 8, 2022

      Bande Utkala Janani: From Freedom Movement to State Anthem

      February 8, 2022

      Manoj Das : An Epitome of Odia Literature

      February 8, 2022

      Durga Puja : A Festival of Fervour

      February 9, 2022

      Utkal Divas: The Glorious Day for a United Odisha

      February 9, 2022

      Gotipua Dance: A Mirror to Ethos of Hindu Culture

      February 9, 2022

      Odissi : The Dance That Describes Odisha

      February 9, 2022
    • Events
      • Disaster
    • Editorial
      • Health
    • Food & Drink
    • Personalities
    • Stories
      • Modern History
    • Announcements
    OdishaLifeStyle
    Home»Events»Holi: Celebration of Festival of Colours in Odisha
    Events

    Holi: Celebration of Festival of Colours in Odisha

    Dinabandhu NayakBy Dinabandhu NayakFebruary 9, 2022Updated:February 9, 2022No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    india_holi
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    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, Holi is celebrated with lot of enjoyments and fun as if there is no tomorrow. 

    But in Odisha diversities are always unified by one thing, by celebrating with gaiety, Holi, the festival of colours. From the ancestral periods, people  of Odisha celebrate Holi by colouring each others with different colours, followed by dance, music, cookies and other activities. 

    Odisha, the state of rich traditions and cultures, celebrates Holi with great enthusiasm and spirits, with blessings of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna. 

    The Legend Behind Holi 

    Bhakta Prahlad, a benevolent devotee of Lord Krishna always worshipped his Lord. But disturbed and threatened to stop worshipping Lord Krishna by Hiranyakshyap, his father. Hiranyakashyap thought himself as God and no one would be superior to him. So he wanted to kill his son and tried so many ways to kill him but could never succeed. Hiranyakshyap had a sister, Holika, who had been blessed by the God to have a win over the burning fire. Holika sat in the blazing fire, keeping Prahlad on her palm and to everyone’s surprise, Prahlad was found unharmed due to his devotion towards Lord Vishnu while Holika got burnt in the fire due to her cruelsome nature. So, Holi is celebrated to mark the Holika Dahan. 

    Holi also celebrates the legend of Radha and Krishna which describes the extreme delight, Krishna took in applying colour on Radha and other gopis. This prank of Krishna later, became a trend and a part of the Holi festivities.

    When Is Holi Celebrated ?

    Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna usually falls in the month of February or March. The tithi ia also known as Phalguna Purnima, or Dola Purnima.

    How is Holi Celebrated in Odisha ?

    Dola Purnima , The Day Before Holi

    The rich mythological tradition related to Holi in Orissa starts just a day before Holi, which is known as Dola Purnima. This festival is very important for the ‘Gaudas’or ‘Gopalas’. On Dola Purnima, the idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha are carried inside a palanquin and roamed around the village or town by the people. Not only Gopalas, but everyone take part in this. The deities are coloured by spraying ‘Abeera'(coloured powders) at them. Cows are also coloured and offered food as cows are worshipped as mother in Hindu religion. 

    It is written in mythologies that Krishna was a Gopala (Cowherd) and used to go after the cattle to the forests. Hence, Krishna and his wife Radha were believed to have played Holi on this Dola Purnima day sitting on a swing. The name Dola is derived from the same. Purnima is the full moon day in Odia.

    In the evening, the Gopalas carry the palanquin on their shoulders. Games such as Dandi Khela are also played to mark the occasion. Special food items such as Peetha, Mitha and Cookies are also served amongst  people. 

    The Next Day is Holi

    People in Odisha start cleaning up their houses and redecorating it to welcome Holi. The ladies of the house start preparing snacks and cold drinks for the day and along side arrange for playing colours. 

    In Odisha, people celebrate Holi with great fervor and gaiety to hold the harmony and brotherhood, which is the motto of celebrating Holi, the festival of colours. 

    The festival is often celebrated with solemnity and splendour all over Odisha. Whether be it a village, a remote area, or may it be an urban area, Holi is celebrated with great joy everywhere in Odisha including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keojnjhar and various other places.

    The celebration starts early in the morning when people colour each others with spray of colored powders or Abeeras. Kids spray water color by using their Pichkaris and elder do use water colors to color their near and dear ones. The fun of colouring and being coloured continues whole day. It becomes hard to go out of home as someone might throw buckets of color on you on the road. Well, you can’t complain because it is said, “Bura Na Mano, Holi Hai”. The streets and people, all look decorated with gradients of colours and creates a scene of colourful canvas. 

    A special type of drinks, called Pana, is served on the occasion of Holi. As the summer heat strikes and there is a need for hydration, the drink Pana gives both the delicious taste and coolness to body. It is also said that the drink Pana has great health related benefits. 

    After a full day’s tiredness and play of colour, people take baths in rivers and ponds, but the colour marks remain on the bodies for longer. 

    Thanks Giving for Good Harvest

    Holi falls as per Hindu Calendar at a time of the year when the fields are in full of crops and greenery and people are expecting a good harvest. The wealth and prospects bring happiness and an occasion for celebration. This gives  people a good reason to rejoice, make fun and bind themselves together in the spirit of Holi.

    The festival Holi, celebrated a day exactly after the Dola Purnima, is hence a festival of ‘Thanks Giving’ to the God for a good harvest. 

    Holika Dahana

    At night on the day of Holi, people celebrate Holika Dahan, a ritual of a bonfire in which the puppet of Holika, the cruel sister of Demon King Hiranyakahyap is burnt. Everywhere in Odisha, the Holika Dahana is observed with sparks of light, fire crackers. 

    Burning of Holika (Holika Dahana) is spiritually the symbol of victory of good over evil. Later, married women carefully sweep away the ashes of the bonfire, to mark the spot with drawings made out of a paste of powdered sun dried rice and water.

    Conclusion

     The best part about Holi is, it does not diversify the people based on age, sex or religion. Everyone, even the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs also enjoy playing Holi. It is a festival of brotherhood, a great significance of communal integration, Holi, always fills the pores of the Country with colours of togetherness and happiness. 

    So, this Holi, don’t sit inside. The doctors have also agreed that spraying colours on your body, has much more health benefits. The skin problems stay away by sprinkling Abeera on body. Everyone come out with your family, friends to enjoy the festival of Colours, by  Just keeping a note of safety, not to destroy the fun. 

    Dola Festival Holi Odisha Purnima
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleSohrai Parba: The Festival of Santhals of Odisha
    Next Article Sarhul Festival: Celebration of Nature
    Dinabandhu Nayak

    Related Posts

    Kalinga War: The Victory of Amity over Violence

    March 6, 2022

    The Battle of Tukaroi: The End of The Bengal Sulanate

    March 6, 2022

    Manabasa Gurubar: Odisha seeks for Sukh, Shanti and Aishwarya

    March 5, 2022

    Prathamsatami: A Celebration of First Child’s Second Birthday

    March 5, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Our Picks
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Don't Miss

    Maa Varahi Temple of Chaurasi: Obscure and Beautiful

    By OdishaLifeStyleMarch 6, 20220

    In Chaurasi, Odisha, there is a temple called Varahi Deula which is an ancient Hindu…

    Kalinga War: The Victory of Amity over Violence

    March 6, 2022

    The Battle of Tukaroi: The End of The Bengal Sulanate

    March 6, 2022

    Manabasa Gurubar: Odisha seeks for Sukh, Shanti and Aishwarya

    March 5, 2022

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    About Us
    About Us

    Your source for the lifestyle news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a lifestyle site. Visit our main page for more demos.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: [email protected]
    Contact: +91-94399-xxxxx

    Our Picks
    New Comments
      Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
      • Home
      • Editorial
      • Stories
      • Culture
      © 2022 OdishaLifeStyle. Powered partner OdishaShop.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

      Sign In or Register

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below.

      Lost password?