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GAJALAXMI PUJA

           GajaLaxmi Puja  in Dhenkanal enjoys a special place in the cultural map of orissa . Every year this festival begins from KUMAR PURNIMA  and continues for eleven days . This is the longest Festival of the District . This Grand festival started in the Year – 1923  at  KUNJASAHU CHOWK  . now known as Ganesh Bazar to the present Bazi chouck.However gradually the puja pratistans mashroomed and there are 36 puja pratistans observe Gajalaxmi puja.Chronologically  Meena Bazar in 1943,Jawahar Chouck in 1948,Laxmi Bazar 1949,Ganesh Bazar 1950,Kanchan Bazar 1951,Ananda Bazar 1952,Karigar Sahi 1955,Golden street 1957,Radhakrushna Bazar , Padma Bazar & Kunjakanta in 1958. Kaibalya Bazar 1959,Jublee Town II 1960,Arnapurna puja santhan & Station Bazar 1963, Ratna Bazar 1965,Chandan Bazar 1967,Gandhi Bazar & Bus stand 1969,Korian 1971,Durga Bazar 1875,Kalika Nagar 1976,Neheru Bazar 1978,Jublee Town III, Nua Bazar 1982  are now celebrating Gajalaxmi Puja. Speciality of this festival is that starting from college road to Korian Chhack almost 7 Kms. the visitors have darshan of all the puja pandals situated on the road sides. Entire Dhenkanal town is decorated with puja mandaps and electrical illumination.The polishree mela organised by the  district administration and the cultural programmes add glamour to the festival. The historically famous ‘BARA’ (Bada) is one of delicious food item which attracts the people.

 MAHASHIVARATRI AT KAPILASH

Kapilash is the abode of Lord Chandrasekhar which is one of the famous tourist spot of Orissa. Every year during Mahasiva Ratri ‘Jagar  Yatra’ is being observed. Devotees, Piligrims come different corners of Orissa as well as India congrigate on the Kapilas hill top. They worship Chandra Shekhar with devotion  & austority. After ‘Shodasa Upachar’ when the ‘Mahadeep’ is taken to the top of the temple the spiritual emotion of the ‘defotees’ reaches at the highest point. The ‘devotee’ from far &  wide come to this Holy place by climbing 1352 steps or by walking through the ‘Barabanki’. The district administration makes minute arrangements for the convenience, security & comfort of atleast 5 lacs of peoples.

Dusehara at Kamakhyanagar

             Dusehara festival of Kamakhayanagar bears a special significance in the culture of Dhenkanal District . The festival is celebrated in the Kamakhynagar Town with great Joy .  The  main deity worshiped during this festival is ‘MAA DURGA’ .All the markets ( Bazars) of Kamakhyanagar town is decorated with lights  and decorative items.  Idol of MAA DURGA is worshipped in  Mundi Deuli , Tarun Bazar , Jagannath Bazar ,Laxmi Bazar  and Main Road . Other  markets ( Bazars) like Hanuman Bazar , Baba Bazar , Gopabandhu Bazar , Alok Bazar, Bus stand   worships idols of Lord Hanuman , Lord Shiva , Lord Srikrishna , Lord Ramachandra . The festival  is celebrated for  4 days .  Immersion of Idols take place on the day after ‘VIJAYA DASAMI’ . The special significance  on the immersion day is ‘RAVAN PODI ‘ and ‘Atas Baji ‘   . All the Idols  of different markets joined  in ‘MELANA PADIA ‘ and the  statue of RAVAN  is set fire .

 Magha Mela at Joronda :

           Maghamela at Joronda is the most famous festival of ‘Mahima Dharma’. Every year it begins on ‘Magha Purnima’ & continues for four days at Joronda. Mahima Sanyasis & devotees from different parts of the country come to Joronda – the epicentre of ‘Mahima Dharma’. It is occasion of the belivers who celebrate it as ‘ Guru Purnima or Prabhu Purnima’.

 Bullock Festival of Bhuban

          Bullock festival of Bhuban has a special identity. Bullock is the most ancient means of transport and communication. In the olden days the merchants specially the ‘Thorias’ or the salt merchants used bullocks to carry their loads. They were traveling different business points of India with this beast of burden. In order to commemorate the old heritage and to realise the importance of bullock in rural economy and agrarian society, the bullock festival of Bhuban is the best example. During ‘Dussera’ the bullocks are decorated with ornaments, beads, bells, colourful velvate saddles brought out in a grand procession. Racing competition is held among the bullocks & prizes are awarded to the owners.