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Tribal Fairs & Festivals in Odisha (Orissa) - The festivals of the tribals constitute a integral part of their social life and relate to their strong beliefs in the power of supernatural elements and community togetherness. Their traditions can best be captured at these fairs and festivals. Most festivals are occasions that mark the change of season relating to harvest of crops and some are religious events commemorating a local deity. Some of the larger and popular celebrations include a week long Tribal Fair at Bhubaneswar (starts 26 January), the Chhow Festival at Baripada (April), the Folk Dance Festival (January) at Sambalpur, the Tribal Festival at Koraput (November).
The grandest of all is the Annual Competitive Festival of Koraput. Celebrated in the Koraput district of Orissa, this festival is unique in many forms. It is commonly known as the Parab Tribal Festival of Koraput Orissa. Celebrated since 1996, it is a result of the creative initiatives of the District council of Koraput.
It celebrates the rich tribal heritage of Orissa and it brings in the various facets of their customs and traditions in forms of their dance, music, sports and handicrafts. The festival also witnesses a huge number of participants approx. 50000 in numbers assembling in Koraput to display their enigmatic talents. The grand jamboree takes you through the grand tribal culture of Koraput, their adventurous sports like boat racing, mountain trekking are the main highlights of the fair.
There are kabi samelans or poet gatherings for the literature lovers, artist camps exhibiting unique talents of the tribal artists, art exhibition to showcase the tribal handicrafts and handlooms, book fairs with the highlight of throwing light into the dark worlds of the tribes, the fair brings in the work of the eminent writers about the life revolving around the various tribes present across the world and help throw a light on the otherwise dark world of these primitives. The mountain climbing expedition takes you to the highest range of Orissa, the Deomalli Hills, while the quiz shows, essays and debate competitions present the talents hidden behind the school going adolescents. The tribal music and dance sets the moods of the evening. The festival has been instrumental in reviving many otherwise fading folk dances and music.
The festival not only provides a unique opportunity to the tribesmen of various communities to show case their distinct culture but brings in the tribals belonging to various communities to the same platform. It offers them an opportunity to know each other and explore the various tribal cultures prevailing in Orissa. It's a great step towards creating awareness amongst the various tribes about their indigenous culture and the need for their perseverance.
The tribal communities of Orissa have many festivals restricted to their own community. The prominent ones are the Bali Jatra celebrated by the Koraput tribal community on the 11th day of the Bahdrab month. Comprising of music and dance, fancy attires, good food, it is all about fun and merry making. Sume Gerilak is the festival of Bonda community; it is a ten day long festival with theme of spreading harmony amongst the community members. The members of Koya tribal community celebrate Bija Pandu Festival, members of Kondh tribe celebrate Kendu and Chaita Paraba is celebrated by Bhuyians while Maghe Parab is for Ho, Oraon, Kisan and Kol communities.
Parab Tribal festival is unique amongst all these festivals as it is not meant for any community; it is a festival of all the tribal and an incredible exhibition of their talents and culture. The tourists get an awesome opportunity in form of Parab Tribal Festival to interact with the tribes of Orissa. It introduces you with their lifestyle and their rich culture. It also helps you discover the immense talent hidden behind these innocent faces in forms of their exquisite handicrafts. Their music is full of rawness and very close to the nature where they spent all their lives. It gets very close to one's heart while their elegant dance forms mesmerize you with their charms.
Fairs & Festivals in Odisha (Orissa) - With numerous religions, ancient temples, local shrines, tribes and an array of sacred places, Odisha (Orissa) observes uncountable number of festivals and fairs round the year. Major Odisha(Orissa) Festivals of Odisha is Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra and Durga Pooja. Three different religions flourished on the holy land of Odisha (Orissa) thus making it mandatory to celebrate various religious Odisha festivals with great fanfare. Odisha Cultural & Religious Festivals are very famous in india.
A land of varied cultures and traditions, Odisha (Orissa) automatically serves to be a land of festivals. Religion or folklores, tradition or agriculture and seasonal variations or ethnic dance forms; all serve to be a setting for the celebration. Odisha (Orissa) celebrates one or other festival every month giving an opportunity to the visitors and natives both to enjoy and have real fun.
With some of the special rituals attached to each, these festivals add bright colors to the landscape of Odisha (Orissa)'s cultural heritage. Some of the festivals of this land of Lord Jagannath are dedicated to His holy self. Some other festivals celebrated in Odisha (Orissa) find a close resemblance to a lot of festivals of North India; however they are called by different names and are even celebrated in a different fashion. But amazingly, every festivity centers around the prayer sacraments to seek the blessings of gods, exchanging goodwill, distributing sweets, decorating houses, wearing new clothes, music, dance and feasting. Whatever is the way, each festival really makes the country come alive throughout the year.
Apart from popular festivals in Odisha, these are many other regional festivals and tribal festivals are celebrated by Odia people at different regions, as example in Sambalpur (a district of Odisha) NuaKhai parab is very popular, and many other festivals are celebrated at different villages of Odisha. Tourist most of the time demand to include festivals tour in their tour packages, so Odisha Tourism created special Odisha Festivals Tour Packages for tourist.
