Durga Pooja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated because of Durga's victory over Mahishasur. It is particularly popular and traditionally celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura, Assam and the country of Bangladesh. The festival is observed in the Indian calendar month of Ashwin, which corresponds to September–October in the Gregorian calendar. Durga Puja, is a ten-day festival, of which the last five are of the most significance. The puja is performed in homes and public, the latter featuring a temporary stage and structural decorations. The festival is also marked by scripture recitations, performance arts, revelry, gift-giving, family visits, feasting, and public processions. Durga puja is an important festival in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism. Durga puja in Kolkata has been inscribed on the Intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO in December, 2021.
Balasore or Baleswara is a city in the state of Odisha, about 194 kilometres (121 mi) north of the state capital Bhubaneswar and 300 kilometres (186 mi) from Kolkata, in eastern India. It is the largest town of northern Odisha and the administrative headquarters of Balasore district. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also called 'missile city'. The Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program's Integrated Test Range is located 18 km south of Balasore.
Jagatdhatri or Jagaddhatri is an aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati, who is particularly worshipped in the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha. Her worship and rituals are directly derived from Tantra where she is a symbol of sattva beside Durga and Kali, respectably symbolized with Rajas and Tamas. According to the puran Jagadhatri is the incarnation of Siddhidhatri. She is also said to be the combined form of Sri bhuvaneshwari and Maa Durga. In Bengal, her puja is celebrated as comeback of devi especially in Chandannagar, Rishra and Krishnanagar and Santipur.
Bhadrak District is a district of Odisha state in eastern India. Bhadrak city is the headquarters and the largest city of the district.
Nabarangpur is a town and a municipality in Nabarangapur district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of Nabarangpur district.
Kendrapara is a Town and a municipality in the Kendrapara district of the Indian state of Odisha. It is the capital of Kendrapara district.
Bhadrak is a city of Odisha state in eastern India. It came into existence on 1 April 1993. The city is the district headquarters of Bhadrak district. According to legend, the city derives its name from the Goddess Bhadrakali, whose temple is on the banks of the Salandi River.
Bhawanipatna is a city, and district headquarters of the Kalahandi district, in the Indian state of Odisha. Bhawanipatna is a city of numerous temples dedicated to different deities of Hindu pantheon. It is named after the presiding deity, Bhawani-Shankar and Patna which means place in Odia like "Padaa". Bhawanipatna municipality is the administrative head of the city, which is divided into twenty wards with different sub-areas called pada. Originally, these padaas were inhabited by people of different communities, but over the last few decades, these padaas have become homogeneous. Bhawanipatna has more than forty padaas.
Brajrajnagar is a town and a municipality in Jharsuguda district in the state of Odisha, India. Popular legend says the town was named after Braj Mohan Birla after he setup Orient Paper Mills in 1936. It's a small sleepy town on rocky terrain, built on the banks of IB river, with temples mostly built by the Birlas. Later it became famous for MCL-owned coal mines after Orient Paper Mills of Birlas closed down in 1999.
The Maa Sarala Temple is a Hindu temple in the district of Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, India. It is one of the eight most famous Shakta shrines of Odisha.
This article lists the traditional festivals and other cultural events in the Odisha region of India. Odisha celebrates 13 festivals in 12 months as the saying goes Bāra Māsare Tera Parba.
Mahavinayak Temple is a major pilgrimage center in Chandikhole in Jajpur district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is one of the oldest Ganesha temples in the state. Five gods - Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Sun and Ganesha - are worshiped as one deity in a single Garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum there.
Charchika Temple is one of the oldest Shakti places in Odisha, India. It is located in a small town of Banki of Cuttack district in Odisha. The presiding deity is an eight-armed goddess Chamunda, locally known as Maa Charchika Devi. She is seated on a prostrate human body and wearing a garland of human skulls. She displays khadga, shula, katari and varadamudra in her four right hands whereas the four left hands represent severed head, blood-cup, ‘’damru’’ and leaving a finger of the remaining hand soaked in blood. This temple is situated on top of a small hillock Ruchika Parvata on the banks of the Renuka river in the small town of Banki in Cuttack district of Odisha.
The Biraja Temple, or Birija Kshetra, is a historic Hindu temple located in Jajpur, Odisha, India. The present temple was built during the 13th century. The principal idol is Devi Durga, who is worshiped as Viraja (Girija), and the temple gave Jajpur the nicknames "Viraja Kshetra" and "Biraja Peetha". The Durga idol has two hands (dwibhuja), spearing the chest of Mahishasura with one hand and pulling his tail with the other. One of her feet is on a lion, and the other is on Mahishasura's chest. Mahishasura is depicted as a water buffalo. The idol's crown features Ganesha, a crescent moon and a lingam. The temple covers a large area, and has several shrines to Shiva and other deities. According to the Skanda Purana it cleanses pilgrims, and it is called the Viraja or the Biraja kshetra. Jajpur is believed to have about one crore of Shiva lingams.
Tourism in Odisha is one of the main contributors to the Economy of Odisha, India, with a 500 km (310 mi) long coastline, mountains, lakes, natural biodiversity and rivers. Odisha is one of the major tourism sectors of India, with various tourists' attractions, ranging from wildlife reserves, beaches, temples, monuments, the arts and festivals. Other than wildlife reserves, beaches, temples, monuments, the arts and festivals, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation, a Public Sector Undertaking of Government of Odisha, is also developing tourism sector of Odisha and India.
Kali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja or Mahanisha Puja, is a festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month Kartik especially in the regions of West Bengal, and in Mithila region of Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, neighbouring country Bangladesh, and the town of Titwala in Maharashtra. Kali Puja is extremely popular in Barasat, Nabadwip, Santipur, Tamluk, Naihati, Barrackpore, Dakshineshwar and Tarapith in West Bengal. Begusarai, Munger, Bhagalpur in Bihar. Guwahati in Assam, Udaipur in Tripura, Ganjam in Odisha, Dhaka and Chittagong in neighbouring country of Bangladesh. It coincides with the Lakshmi Puja day of Diwali. While the Hindu Bengalis, Odias, Assamese and Maithils worship the goddess Kali on this day, the rest of India and Nepal worships goddess Lakshmi on Diwali.
Itamati is a village located in Nayagarh district of Odisha, India. It is 6 km from Nayagarh Town. Itamati is known as the major business centre of Nayagarh, Also known as the second largest village of Odisha.
Baramba is a tehsil (block) of Cuttack district. There are 36 village (panchayats) under the Baramba administrative division.
Balakumari or Maa Balakumari is a temple and tourist place destination in Odisha. The place is well known as a holy pilgrim destination for a temple where Maa Balakumari is worshiped on the top of the mountain near chikiti.
