Complete List of Festivals Celebrated in Odisha: The Land of Bara Masare Tera Parba

In Odisha, there is a popular adage: "ବାର ମାସରେ ତେର ପର୍ବ" (Bara Masare Tera Parba), meaning "thirteen festivals in twelve months." In truth, Odisha observes far more than thirteen festivals every single year. Almost every lunar phase (tithi), seasonal change, and harvest cycle brings a reason for prayer, celebration, traditional culinary feasts (pitha), and community harmony.

Whether rooted in the sacred rituals of Lord Jagannath, ancient agrarian traditions, or vibrant folk lore, here is your definitive, month-wise guide to the festivals celebrated across Odisha.

The 13 Primary Festivals of Odisha (Tera Parba)

While dozens of regional and family rituals exist, traditional texts often enumerate these thirteen core celebrations: 

Sl. No.	Festival (ପର୍ବ / ଓଷା)	Odia Month	English Month
1	Chandan Jatra	Baisakha	April – May
2	Devasnana Purnima	Jyeshtha	May – June
3	Ratha Jatra	Ashadha	June – July
4	Chitalagi Amavasya	Srabanha	July – August
5	Jhulan Jatra & Gamha Purnima	Srabanha	August
6	Janmastami & Radhastami	Bhadraba	August – September
7	Durga Puja / Dashahara	Aswina	September – October
8	Kumar Purnima & Laxmi Puja	Aswina	October
9	Deepavali & Kali Puja	Kartika	October – November
10	Bada Osha	Kartika	November
11	Prathamashtami	Margasira	November – December
12	Pushyabhisheka (Pousha Purnima)	Pousha	December – January
13	Dola Purnima & Holi	Falguna	February – March

Complete Month-Wise List of Odia Festivals

The Odia calendar follows the lunar schedule. Here is the full breakdown of festivals, fasting days (brata/osha), and fairs across all 12 Odia months:

1. Baisakha (ବୈଶାଖ - April / May)

• Pana Sankranti / Maha Vishuba Sankranti: The Odia New Year celebrated by drinking Bela Pana and hanging water pots over the sacred Tulasi tree.
• Jhamu Jatra: This festivals is celebrted on Pana Sankranti every year at Maa Sarala Peetha in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha.

• Akshaya Trutiya: The auspicious day for commencing agricultural tilling (Akhi Muthi Anukula) and the starting point of the chariot construction for Ratha Jatra.

• Chandan Jatra: The 42-day water cruise ritual (Chapa Khela) of the representative deities in sacred tanks like Narendra Pushkarini in Puri.

• Nrusingha Chaturdashi: Worship of Lord Narasimha, marking the triumph of faith over tyranny.

2. Jyeshtha (ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ - May / June)

• Debasnana Purnima: The grand bathing ceremony where the Jagannath Trinity undergoes ritual abhisheka with 108 pots of sacred herbal water, followed by the Hati Besha.

• Sabitri Brata: A dedicated day of fasting observed by married Odia women for the longevity and prosperity of their husbands.

• Sitala Sasthi: The symbolic divine wedding festival of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, celebrated with great pomp in Sambalpur and across Western Odisha.

• Raja Parba: A beloved 3-day festival of womanhood and Mother Earth, marked by swings (Raja Doli), traditional betel (Raja Pana), and mouthwatering Poda Pitha. On the last of Raja, people celebrate Basumati Snana, a ritual to worship mother earth done by little girls.

3. Ashadha (ଆଷାଢ଼ - June / July)

• Netrotsaba & Nabajauvana Darshana: Celebrating the recovery of the deities following their quarantine (Anasara) post-Snana Purnima.

• Ratha Jatra: The world-renowned chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra to Gundicha Temple.

• Hera Panchami: Goddess Lakshmi’s visit to Gundicha Temple out of affection and playful anger towards Lord Jagannath.

• Bahuda Jatra & Suna Besha: The grand return of the deities to Srimandira, followed by the golden attire darshan on the chariots.

• Niladri Bije: The ritual return into the sanctum sanctorum, concluded by offering Rasagola to Maa Lakshmi.

• Maa Tarini Brata: This festival is celebrated by women on the next Tuesday (ମଙ୍ଗଳବାର) of Ratha Jatra.

4. Srabanha (ଶ୍ରାବଣ - July / August)

• Chitalagi (Chitau) Amavasya: Worship honoring Lord Jagannath with the golden forehead ornament (Chita), celebrated at homes by making steamed Chitau Pitha.

• Jhulan Jatra: A monsoon swing festival dedicated to Radha and Krishna.

• Gamha Purnima or Raksha Bandhan: Celebrates Raksha Bandhan along with the birthday of Lord Balabhadra, venerating cattle and agrarian tools.

5. Bhadraba (ଭାଦ୍ରବ - August / September)

• Janmashtami & Nandotsaba: Celebrations commemorating the birth of Lord Krishna.

• Khudurukuni Osha: In this festival, Maa Mangala is worshiped by the unmarried girls to protect their brothers.

• Nuakhai: The premiere agricultural festival of Western Odisha, welcoming the newly harvested crop (Nabanna) with family gatherings and the Nuakhai Juhar greeting.

• Ganesh Puja: Invocation of the deity of wisdom in schools, colleges, and pandals.

• Sathi Osha: A ritual where mothers worship Goddess Sasthi for the health and safety of their children.

• Radhashtami: Marks the auspicious birth of Goddess Radha.

• Ananta Chaturdashi: A solemn fast honoring Lord Ananta Padmanabha.

6. Aswina (ଆଶ୍ୱିନ - September / October)

• Dutibahana Osha (Dutiya / Jitiya): An austere fast observed by mothers praying for the welfare and longevity of their children, accompanied by traditional dishes like Ghanta Tarakari.

• Mahalaya: The conclusion of Pitru Paksha, dedicated to offering Tarpana and remembering ancestors.

• Durga Puja & Dasahara: The grand celebration of Goddess Durga’s triumph over evil, world-famous in Cuttack for its intricate silver and gold filigree (Tarakasi Medha). Chatar Jatra of Maa Manikeswari in Bhawanipatna is quite famous during this time.

• Kumar Purnima & Gaja Laxmi Puja: Celebrated on the full moon day by unmarried girls honoring the Moon and Sun, while Dhenkanal and Kendrapara host grand Lakshmi Pujas.

7. Kartika (କାର୍ତ୍ତିକ - October / November)

• Garvana Sankranti: An agrarian observance where farmers inspect the grain buds inside the paddy plants. This ia also known as Tula Sankranti.

• Deepavali & Kali Puja: The festival of lights, accompanied in Odisha by Badabadua Daka (calling upon ancestral spirits with burning jute sticks).

• Anla Nabami: The day when devotees have the rare Radha Pada Darshana (viewing of the sacred feet of Radha) in Sakhigopal.

• Bada Osha: The major fasting day honoring Lord Shiva, celebrated with utmost devotion at Dhabaleswar Temple with the sacred Gaja Bhoga.

• Kartika Purnima & Boita Bandana: Commemorates the ancient maritime trading glory of Kalinga as miniature boats are floated early in the morning; it also flags off the historic Bali Jatra on the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack. This festival is also known as Panchaka Purnima.

8. Margasira (ମାର୍ଗଶୀର - November / December)

• Manabasa Gurubara: Celebrated on every Thursday of Margasira, where Odia households decorate floors with intricate Jhoti Chita and worship Goddess Lakshmi with newly harvested grains in a Mana (traditional measuring bowl).

• Prathamashtami: Celebrates the firstborn child (Prathama) of the family, featuring new clothes and freshly steamed, aromatic turmeric-leaf Enduri Pitha.

• Dhanu Sankranti: Marks the beginning of the month-long harvest festival and the staging of the world's largest open-air theater, the Bargarh Dhanu Jatra. Dhanu Muan is offered to god on this festival.

9. Pousha (ପୌଷ - December / January)

• Pandu Osha: It is a traditional ritual dedicated to Yudhisthira observed across Odisha on the full moon day (Pandu Purnima) of the holy Odia month of Margasira. Women do this fast to have a son like Yudhisthira.

• Bata Osha: It is quite similar to Pandu Osha but observed two days after Pandu Purnima, that is, on Dwitiya tithi. It is also known as Danda Pahanra Osha, where women fast for the long life of their son and worship Yamraj, the God of death.

• Bakula Amavasya: Ritual offering of special rice delicacies (Gaintha Pitha) to mango trees to ensure a rich blossoming season. This is also called Baula Amabasya.

• Samba Dashami: Dedicated to Lord Surya, where mothers pray for their children’s health with three separate food offerings (Sataghadia Bhoga) served throughout the day.

• Pushyabhisheka (Pousha Purnima): The annual coronation ceremony of Lord Jagannath at Puri Srimandira.

10. Magha (ମାଘ - January / February)

• Makar Sankranti: Celebrates the sun's transition into Capricorn with kite-flying and the preparation of Makar Chaula.

• Triveni Amavasya: Celebrated as the appearance day of Lord Biraja in Jajpur.

• Saraswati Puja / Vasant Panchami: Welcoming spring and honoring the Goddess of learning and wisdom.

• Magha Saptami (Chandrabhaga Mela): Devotees take a holy dip at the Chandrabhaga beach in Konark before sunrise to worship the Sun God.

• Agira Purnami: This is celebrated on Magha Purnima by worshiping Lord File and firing the harvested straw. According to some sources, this is celebreated to say goodbye to winter.

11. Falguna (ଫାଲ୍ଗୁନ - February / March)

• Maha Shivaratri (Jagara): Devotees fast the entire day and night, waiting for the Maha Dipa to be raised to the temple spire before breaking their fast.

• Dola Purnima & Fagu Khela: The spring swing festival of Radha-Krishna taken in ornamental palanquins (Dola Bimana), culminating in the joyous celebrations of Holi.

12. Chaitra (ଚୈତ୍ର - March / April)

• Chaitra Mangalabar Osha: This festival is observed in Odisha during the lunar month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. It is also called as Panthei Puja (ପନ୍ଥେଇ ପୂଜା).

• Danda Nata & Uda Parba: An ancient, rigorous ascetic penance practiced across Southern and Central Odisha to invoke the blessings of Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva. This is also called Danda Jatra.

• Chaitra Parba & Chhau Nata: Renowned mask dance celebrations centered in Mayurbhanj.

• Ashokashtami (Rukuna Ratha Jatra): The chariot festival of Lord Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar, famous for the chariot that does not turn around (Analeuta Ratha).

• Rama Navami: Commemorates the appearance of Lord Rama.

• Chaiti Ghoda Nacha or Chaiti Punei: On the Chaitra Purnima, a special festival is organized at Maa Bhadrakali Peetha in Bhadrak district, which is Ghoda Nacha. Ghoda Nacha is a unique combination of Odia folk play and folk song; there the fisherman performs this art with a horse statue. This is also called Keuta Purnima.

Other Festivals (those that don't follow a single date or tithi)

• Sudasha Brata: It is observed on the tenth day (Dashami Tithi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) when it falls on a Thursday. Maa Laxmi is worshiped in this festival.

Notable Multi-Day Fairs and Folk Festivals

Beyond calendar rituals, Odisha is famous for vibrant cultural and open-air folk festivals:

• Bargarh Dhanu Jatra: The world’s largest open-air theater spanning an entire town.

• Cuttack Bali Jatra: The historic maritime trade fair held on the Mahanadi riverbank.

• Konark Dance Festival & International Sand Art Festival: Held in December against the backdrop of the Sun Temple.

• Mukteswar & Rajarani Music Festivals: Celebrating Indian classical and Odissi musical heritage.

Explore More

Want to read deeper stories, photo essays, and traditional recipes behind each of these celebrations? Explore our full collection under the Festivals of Odisha archive on Gapu Photography.