These caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvata in the Hathigumpha inscription. Formerly, these caves are called as Kattaka Caves or Cuttack caves.

- All these photos are taken by Bhabani Prasad Das sir and published here with his permission.

- And all these contents are taken from English Wikipedia.

Previously, we had shared a blog as, Gundichaghai Waterfall in Summer where we have shared a little bit of information and some really beautiful photos of the Gundichaghai waterfall.

Gundicha Ghai waterfall is a huge one, especially during the rainy season. Now, they have built a new staircase leading to the waters. But it's better to avoid going near the water during the rainy season. It's too scary.

* All these photographs are taken by Dr. Biswajeet Mishra and we have published here with all his permissions.

* Before sharing these photos, you have to take the permission from him.

They offer many seasonal and local vegetables during the rituals. The next day, after completion of the rituals, they make a Ghanta which the whole family relishes during lunch.

There are three occasions when most Odia households cook a Ghanta dish—

• Dutia/Dwitiya Ghanta (on Mula Ashtami)
• Garbhana Sankranti Ghanta (on Tula Sankranti)
• Ghadaghadia Ghanta (on Samba Dashami)

The first two Ghanta are similar, but the third is quite different. Let's talk about Dutia Osha ghanta.

At least 7 vegetables or multiples of it are used to make this dish. Right from pumpkin, ash gourd, green papaya, pointed gourd, snake gourds, ridge gourds, drumsticks, plantain, brinjal, mature cucumber, tubers like an elephant foot, sweet potatoes, leafy greens like pumpkin leaves, amaranth stalks, etc. are cut into chunky pieces.

All Veggies used to boil in a big adding of turmeric, salt, bay leaf, and a piece of crushed ginger. Sprouted legumes such as moong, black chana, freshly grated coconut, and some bits of it are very essential to bring out the flavor of the dish. One can also use soaked Kabuli Chana, peanuts, Chana Daal in the dish.

Everything is slow-cooked to get perfection. One can add a few strips of Elephant Apple Ou in Odia, as it adds tanginess as well as a typical flavor to the dish.

Freshly made roasted cumin and red chili are added and then there is a final tempering with ghee and whole cumin or Pancha-Phutana. Some people add curry leaves for aroma and you can add black pepper crushed instead of red chili powder.

Mansi Rath, an Odia food blogger born and brought up in Balasore, Odisha. She is a software engineer by profession, a foodie, and by choice. She has an aim and has a passion to become a chef. She loves to explore places and different cuisines of Odisha. Follow her on Instagram @delicious_foodcornor

- All these photographs are taken by Mansi Rath and she wrote this blog. We have published it here with her permission.

Chuli Puja (Odia: ଚୁଲି ପୂଜା) is a traditional Odia festival celebrated in some parts of Odisha. Chuli Puja is also called Andharia Parbha in some regions of Odisha.

On Chuli Pooja people use to worship the oven at home. People of Odisha previously using the mud oven, but later the oven changed to the portable stove, gas oven, movable oven, etc. But still, people worshiping the oven on this day.

Photo: Seema Das

This festival, Chuli Pooja is celebrated on Sunian (Odia: ସୁନିଆଁ). Sunian is the 1st day of the Odia calendar according to Puri Gajapati Maharaja.

Though we celebrate Odia new year on Pana Sankranti, but the king of Puri celebrates from Sunian. This day is also known as Bamana Janma.

On Bhadrav Shukla Ekadasi (the 11th day of the light fortnight of the 5th month of Odia calender) people use to worship the oven inside the kitchen.

Procedures of Chuli Puja:

• The elder woman in the family usually does this puja.
• After cleaning the Chuli (oven) people use to worship with different types of flowers like lily, cucumber, and the creeper of the gourd.
• On this day, people don't cook on that oven. But some people do worship after cooking.
• On the next day, all flowers should through to a pond of to river nearby.

Photo: Sanjita Panigrahi

Sathi Osha (Odia: ଷଠି ଓଷା) is a traditional Odia festival celebrated every year just after two days of Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival is also known as Sathi Dusei Osha or Sathi Osha.

Photo: Chinmayee Mishra, Shared under CC 4.0 creative Commons License

Shashti Devi is a Hindu folk goddess who is the protector of children. In Odisha, Shathi Devi is worshiped as the birth Devi. On the 6th day of baby's born in Odisha, people use to worship Sathi Devi at home, which is a little bit different from this Osha.

Sathi Osha Celebration:

• In the morning of Sathi Osha, people do Somanath Brata for Lord Shiva.
• Rice, Dal, Fish fry, Chakuli Pitha, and two more veg curry are prepared to offer Maa Sathi.
• A muller covered with Turmeric Cloth place on the Turmeric and then with the ritual, the mothers do this pooja.

Photo: Gourisankar Sahoo

Sathi Osha Bhoga, Photo: Gourisankar Sahoo

- All this information is taken from Odia Wikipedia.

- Photos: Manjula Samal, Gouri Sankar Sahoo, Chinmayee Mishra

Mayurbhanj is a district among 30 districts in Odisha state in eastern India. This district is the largest district of Odisha by area. Baripada is the city headquarter of this district. Other major towns are Rairangpur, Karanjia, and Udala.

The district is an autonomous district. The main tribes of this district are Santal, Ho, Bhumij/Munda, Bhuinya, Mankadia, and Kharia and others. The district has many tribal cultures like Santali culture, Ho dance and Mage Porob, Baa Porob, Hermuut, Heroh Porob, Karam, Jomnama, and Jomsuim of Ho tribe and Bhumij cultures.

Some of the famous musicians and singers of the Ho, like Mangal Bandra, Pute Kerai, Punjabi Sirka, Dubung Sirka, Budhuram Samad, Ghanshyam Angrai, Subhlaxmi Bodra, and the Santali, like Basen Murmu, come from this district.

N.B.: All these photographs are taken from the Twitter account of Tika Govind aka Mayurabhanjiaa.

ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜର ରଙ୍ଗ ....ଦେଖିବାକୁ ଲୋଡା ବାସ କେଇଟା ମୂହୁର୍ତ୍ତ ....#mayurbhanj #baripada
ଫଟୋ‐ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜ ଟୁରିଜିମ pic.twitter.com/7Jz6vtjdkG

— ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜିଆ (@tiksspeaking) August 21, 2020