Fairs and Festivals in Odisha MCQ
Dear Friends, Today we are going to share an important chapter of Odisha GK- Objective Fairs and Festivals in Odisha in the State of Odisha i.e. Fairs and Festivals in Odisha short questions MCQ Objective Questions, which will be your upcoming OPSC, OCS, ASO, OSSC, OSSSC, CT, BED, OTET, ODISHA POLICE Exam, Odisha postal Exam, Odisha SSC Exam, and other Odisha competitive exam, etc. This will prove to be important for exams.
Table of Contents
| Name Of The Post | Fairs and Festivals in Odisha,s MCQ [Free PDF] |
| Questions Type | Objective MCQ Questions/Quiz |
| Post Category | Odisha Geography / Odisha gk |
| FREE PDF | |
| Published By | Odisha GK |
Top 30 Fairs and Festivals in Odisha: Comprehensive Notes
Religious Festivals
1. Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival)
- Location: Puri
- Timing: June-July (Ashadha month)
- Significance: Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra travel to Gundicha Temple on three massive chariots
- Highlights: World’s largest chariot procession; millions of devotees pull the chariots; continues for 9 days
- Cultural Impact: Inspired the English word “juggernaut”; international devotees participate
2. Bahuda Yatra
- Location: Puri
- Timing: 8 days after Rath Yatra
- Significance: Return journey of deities from Gundicha Temple to main temple
- Highlights: Known as the return journey of the Rath Yatra
3. Chandan Yatra
- Location: Puri
- Timing: April-May (21 days)
- Significance: Sandal ceremony where representative images of deities are taken for boat rides
- Highlights: Boat festival on Narendra Tank; elaborate water sports and rituals
4. Dola Purnima
- Location: Statewide
- Timing: March (Phalguna Purnima)
- Significance: Celebration of Lord Krishna’s playful activities
- Highlights: Deities are taken on decorated swings (dolas); colorful festivities with gulal (colored powder)
5. Durga Puja
- Location: Statewide (especially Cuttack)
- Timing: September-October
- Significance: Worship of Goddess Durga
- Highlights: Distinctive silver filigree decorations (tarakasi) in Cuttack; grand immersion processions
6. Maha Shivaratri
- Location: Statewide (especially Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar)
- Timing: February-March
- Significance: Night dedicated to Lord Shiva
- Highlights: All-night vigil; special rituals at Lingaraj Temple; Jagara (staying awake all night)
7. Kartik Purnima
- Location: Statewide (especially coastal areas)
- Timing: November
- Significance: Commemorates maritime history and trade relations with Southeast Asia
- Highlights: Boita Bandana ritual where miniature boats are floated in water bodies
Tribal and Folk Festivals
8. Parab Festival
- Location: Koraput
- Timing: November
- Significance: Celebration of tribal art, culture and traditions
- Highlights: Showcases diverse tribal cultures of southern Odisha; traditional music, dance, and handicrafts
9. Nuakhai
- Location: Western Odisha
- Timing: August-September
- Significance: Harvest festival; offering of new rice to deities
- Highlights: Family reunions; seeking blessings from elders; traditional Sambalpuri dance performances
10. Dhanu Jatra
- Location: Bargarh
- Timing: December-January
- Significance: World’s largest open-air theatrical festival
- Highlights: Entire town transforms into a stage; depicts Krishna-Kansa story; lasts for 11 days
11. Magha Mela
- Location: Khiching, Mayurbhanj
- Timing: January-February
- Significance: Associated with Kichakeswari Temple
- Highlights: Tribal fair with ritual bathing; temple celebrations
12. Chaitra Parba
- Location: Tribal regions (especially Kandhamal and Mayurbhanj)
- Timing: March-April
- Significance: New year celebration among tribal communities
- Highlights: Tribal dance forms like Dalkhai, Ghumura; showcases traditional hunting skills
Cultural Festivals
13. Konark Dance Festival
- Location: Konark Sun Temple
- Timing: December
- Significance: Celebration of classical dance forms against the backdrop of the ancient temple
- Highlights: Performances by leading exponents of various classical dance styles; illuminated Sun Temple
14. Rajarani Music Festival
- Location: Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Timing: January
- Significance: Celebration of classical music
- Highlights: Performances by renowned classical musicians; evening concerts in temple backdrop
15. Mukteswar Dance Festival
- Location: Mukteswar Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Timing: January
- Significance: Promoting Odissi dance
- Highlights: Performances by leading Odissi dancers; temple architecture as backdrop
16. Kalinga Mahotsav
- Location: Dhauli (near Bhubaneswar)
- Timing: February
- Significance: Celebration of martial art traditions at the historic site of Kalinga War
- Highlights: Martial dance performances, especially Mayurbhanj Chhau
17. Puri Beach Festival
- Location: Puri Beach
- Timing: November
- Significance: Promoting beach tourism and culture
- Highlights: Sand art exhibitions; cultural performances; water sports; crafts fair
18. Bali Jatra
- Location: Cuttack
- Timing: November
- Significance: Commemorates ancient maritime trade links with Bali (Indonesia)
- Highlights: One of Odisha’s largest trade fairs; traditional maritime artifacts; paper boats ritual
Seasonal and Regional Festivals
19. Raja Parba
- Location: Statewide
- Timing: June
- Significance: Celebration of womanhood and Earth’s fertility
- Highlights: Girls play on swings; women wear new clothes; special traditional sweets; three-day celebration
20. Kumar Purnima
- Location: Statewide
- Timing: October-November
- Significance: Worship of Lord Kartikeya (Kumar); unmarried girls pray for good husbands
- Highlights: Girls play games and perform rituals; special dishes like pitha (rice cakes) prepared
21. Prathamastami
- Location: Statewide
- Timing: November-December
- Significance: Celebration for the eldest child in the family
- Highlights: Special rituals for child’s well-being; traditional gifts and blessings
22. Sital Sasthi
- Location: Western Odisha (especially Sambalpur)
- Timing: June
- Significance: Celebrates marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
- Highlights: Elaborate wedding procession; community participation; continues for three days
23. Joranda Mela
- Location: Joranda, Dhenkanal
- Timing: January
- Significance: Festival of Mahima sect followers
- Highlights: Gathering of saffron-robed Mahima sadhus; worship at no-roof temple
Nature-Based Festivals
24. Chudakhai
- Location: Coastal Odisha
- Timing: January (Makar Sankranti)
- Significance: Celebrating bounty of winter harvest
- Highlights: Traditional feast with seasonal produce; kite flying competitions
25. Dola Melana
- Location: Coastal districts
- Timing: March
- Significance: Spring festival during Holi season
- Highlights: Clay images of Krishna-Radha carried on decorated vimanas (structures)
26. Makar Mela
- Location: Various riverside locations (especially Khiching)
- Timing: January (Makar Sankranti)
- Significance: Ritual bathing in sacred rivers
- Highlights: Large fair with traditional items; ritual offerings to Sun god
Contemporary Festivals
27. Ekamra Utsav
- Location: Bhubaneswar
- Timing: January
- Significance: Celebration of Bhubaneswar’s heritage as “Temple City”
- Highlights: Light and sound shows at temples; cultural performances; heritage walks
28. International Sand Art Festival
- Location: Chandrabhaga Beach, Konark
- Timing: December (coincides with Konark Festival)
- Significance: Showcasing sand art on global platform
- Highlights: Participation by international sand artists; themed sculptures
29. Tribal Sports Festival
- Location: Various tribal districts
- Timing: December-January
- Significance: Preservation of traditional tribal sports
- Highlights: Archery, stone-throwing competitions, traditional wrestling
30. Toshali National Crafts Mela
- Location: Bhubaneswar
- Timing: December
- Significance: Showcase of handicrafts from across India
- Highlights: Exhibition and sale of handloom, handicrafts; cultural performances; food stalls
