Danda Nacha -Odisha

Danda Nacha is very popular and famous festival and a part of tradition folk dance in Odisha. This dance festival is regularly held by an old traditional orgnaizaion ‘Danda’. At the time of chaitra (march-april) in hindu calender, the fesival is celebrated in a grand manner with much enthusiasm by dadicating to Goddess Maa Kali and Lord Shiva. It is performed over a period stretching over thirteen days, 21days or one month continues till the “Meru Sankranti’ variously known as “Bisuba Sankranti’, ‘Pana Sankranti’ or "Mesha sankanti", etc.up to mesha sankanti.. People also celebrate Danda Brata ,Rudrakali Brata, Rudrakali fasting.

A large number of devotees come here to offer prayers and participate in the Dand Nach. Devotees willingly bear the Sun's heat, walk on fire and stay under water. "Dandua" or the dance of penance passess through three phases viz Dhuli danda (soil dance or Penance on the Sand’ for about three hours during mid day), Agni danda(fire dance) and Pani dance (water dance or Penance by the Water).


A yajna is conducted there with offerings to the holy fire accompanied by the chanting of mantras. When the yajna is over the priest offers a sacred thread to each dandua. For the moment they wear that thread and became the member of one family irrespective of every caste, called the ‘Tera Budhuta’. After performing in the inaugrual rituals, the above troupe leaves for a procession by beating the ‘dhol’ (a drum like instrument) ‘Jhanja’ (Cymbal) and ‘mahuri’ (A Shehnai type of instrument).They also hold flags of many hues, bunches of peacock feathers, a painting of Goddess Kali fixed to bamboo pole and a torch made from straw in the yajna fired called Chama Bara. During this festival the Danduas live on the frugal vegetarian meal a day. During the time of taking their meal some sound reached their ear then they have to leave from thier meal means thay can't take take their food. So the drums keep playing when thay take their meal.


On the ‘Meru Sankranti’ day the party comeback to their homeplace, then they perform their usual “Dhuli Danda’ in front of a house holder of the village, then breath taking ritual at “Kamana Ghar’. A puja archana(yajaan) is performed in the thee structure poles, two on the either side of the yajna pith and the third one is set up at the top connecting the tow .After that ‘Tera Budhuta’ is made to swing above on the horizontal pole , putting his head down wards and body bent at the keen, tied till a few drops of blood oozing through his nostrils are wiped away and in a half-conscious state. At that night time the Chadhaya Nach and apera or thature is enacted for the last time. The next day morning the “Tera Budhuta’ discarded their threads, they have been warning since the inaugural day during their bath. Finally, they share a common feast in which they take their favourite dishes.

Danda Nach is celebrated in several parts of Odisha, but the Chdheya Nata is not uniform. It is mostly wide spread in the Ganjam district of South Odisha.