ORISSA is not only an ideal choice for monuments, beaches, waterfalls and scenic beauties but also her colorful fairs and festivals.
The festivals are as numerous as the days in a year, each with a difference having an individuality of its own culminating in the grand Car Festival of Puri .Though this chapter, we present some of the major Fairs & Festivals of Orissa and you are welcome to enjoy them.

LOK MAHOTSAVA (January 4-6 ) : To bring the folk dances and music of Orissa to limelight, the Lok Mahotsava is organized every year at Gangadhar Mandap in the town of Sambalpur for a period of three days, The town wears a new look on those days and the entire atmosphere is surcharged with the beating of Dhol and sweet melody of Sehnais.
MAKAR MELA (January) :- Makar Sankaranti is celebrated with gusto in mid-January when the sun enters the orbit of Capricorn. Sun God is worshipped with great favour and enthusiasm by one and all. The festival can be best enjoyed at Kalijai (an island in Chilika), Atri, Ghatgaon, Keonjhar, Jashipur and Jagatsinghpur.
PARAB (January 29-31) :- To highlight the cultural tradition of Orissa, Parab is organized every year in Koraput by the District Administration of Koraput in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Culture, Government  of Orissa. Not only the tribunal dances for which the region is renowned but also the folk dances and Odissi, the only classical dance form of Orissa are presented during this festival. The other highlights include Exhibition , Craft Mela, Adventure Sports like river rafting, mountaineering. etc.
MAGHA MELA (January-February) :- The most popular and colorful festival of Konark, an occasion for a grand congregation of Indian pilgrims and enthusiast from abroad, falls on the 7th day of the bright half of "Magha" . The Indian pilgrims take holy dips in the Chandrabhaga Tirhta near the sea and welcome the rising Sun with prayers.
Also a grand fair is held at Khandagiri near Bhubaneswar on the same day which continues for about a week.
MAHASIVARATRI (February-March) :- The festival "Shiva's Great Night" falls on the 14th day of the dark half of phalgun and perform puja throughout the night and keep a vigil to witness the sacred lamp on the temple top. The festival can be best enjoyed at Mahendragiri , Gupteswar, Kapilas, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Khiching.

                               DOLA YATRA

DOLA (March-April) :- Dola , popularly known as Holi is the most famous and colorful festival of Orissa , celebrated on Phalgun Purnami and a day succeeding. Based on the romantic plays of Radha and Krishna, people converge on the streets with their idols on gaily decorated "Vimans" singing devotional songs in their praise and throwing colour powders and waters on each other.
TARATARINI MELA (April) :- The "Taratarini Mela" , one of Orissa's biggest fairs ,takes place on each Tuesday in the month of "Chaitra" i.e. from around mid-March to mid-April at Taratarini Pitha - 30 km from Berhampur. A grand congregation takes place on the 3rd Tuesday.

ASHOKASTAMI (April) :- The car festival of Lord Lingaraj at Bhubaneswar, Ashokastami is held in the bright half  of 'Chaitra' . The protege of Lord Lingaraj is taken in a chariot from the main temple to Rameswar Temple and return after a four-day stay.
CHAITRA PARBA (April) :- The 'Chaitra Parba' of 'Chhau festival' commmences from 10th/11th April every year and continues for three days concluding on 'Mahavishuva Sankrati Day' at Baripada. This is a festival of festivals which is enjoyed by the people of the country and the enthusiasts from abroad.
SITALASASTHI (May-June) :- The celebration of  marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva with Parvati starts with the untying of the wedding knot of the divine couple. Devotees act as their parents to perform the marriage. The bridegroom's procession popularly known as 'Barat' starts from the 5th night of the bright half of Jyestha and the marriage is performed in the traditional manner.
The festival is celebrated in Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar in gorgeous ways.

RATHA YATRA (June-July) :- Ratha Yatra , known as Car Festival is the grandest of all festivals in Orissa, It is the sacred journey of Lord Jagannath with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from the main Jagannath Temple to another shrine called 'Gundicha mandir' for nine days. It begins from the 2nd day of bright half of  'Asadha' which falls in June-July every year. Thousands and thousands of devotees from all over India and abroad throng on that day at Puri to pull the sacred Chariots.
DURGA PUJA (September-October) :- Durga Puja Symbolises the commemoration of good over evil. Life comes to a stand-still  in the city of

                              RATH YATRA

 Cuttack as crowds pour over the puja Mandaps to enjoy the festivities. On the day succeeding 'Vijaya Dasami' the last day of Durga Puja, the images are taken in a spectacular procession for immersion in the river Kathajodi.
LAKSHMI PUJA (September-October) :- Observed with much pomp and ceremony in Dhenkanal town, it commences from the fullmoon the fullmoon day of Aswin and continues for a period of one week.
BEACH FESTIVAL (February 5-9) :- Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is a wonderful beach resort for leisure tourists. It is known for its thirteen major festivals of Lord Jagannath celebrated every year. But the new Tourist Festival known as 'Puri Beach Festival' held from 5th-9th November each year has come to limelight in recent times.
BALI YATRA (November-December) :- To commemorate the glorious past of commercial voyages to the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra by Orissan Traders, a big fair called 'Bali Yatra' is held on Mahanadi river bank at Cuttack on the fullmoon day of Kartik.

DHANU YATRA

KONARK FESTIVAL (December 1-5) :- A festival of classical dance forms performed by the celebrated danseurs of the country on the Open Air Auditorium set amidst the casuarinas grove with the Sun Temple, a World Heritage Monument, at the back drop. During the festival evenings the atmosphere is surcharged with rhythmic dancing beats and melodious tunes.
DHANU YATRA (December-January) :- Dhanu Yatra relating to the episode of Lord Krishna's visit to Mathura to witness the ceremony of 'Bow' is colorful observed at Bargarth. The town of Bargarh becomes Mathura, the river Jira becomes Yamuna and the village Amapali on the other bank of the river

becomes Gopa. Different acts of the Puranic descriptions are performed at their right places and the spectators move from place to place with the actions to see the performance.