Friday, 7 September 2012

Dance Forms - Odissi

Bhumi Pranam Step
Tribhangi Step
Chauka Step
Mudra Step

Mahavishub Sankranti - Fesival of Odisha

Mahavishub Sankranti  also called Pana Sankranti observed by odia people Significance New Year as per the traditional Sidereal astrology of Hindu Solar Calendar in the date of  Vaishakha  month(Odiya calendar) celebrated as meru yatra. The day marks the beginning of the New Year in the traditional .
On this day the sun enters the sidereal Aries or Mesha Rashi.

Vishuva Sankranti is considered as the first day of the solar year for specific reasons .The Sun fully rests on the equator on only two occasions around year, Mesha Sankramana and Tula Sankramana. The oriya solar month of Mesha starts from this day. people of Odisha calculate the month from the next day of Purnima to Purnima, as per the North Indian Purnimanta system, the yearly cycle of the moon is less than 365 days of earth's rotation, and some years also contain Adhika Maasa. Therefore, the new year is calculated from the day of Mesha Sankramana to fix a particular day.
 
Maha Vishuva Sankranti is observed similar to the New Year festivals  in India such as Baisakhi (Punjab), Bihu (Assam),Jude-Sheetal (Mithila), Naba Barsha (Bengal), Bisu Parba (Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka), Vishu (Kerala), and Puthandu (Tamil Nadu).

Main festival of Vishuva Sankranti deities are Worshiped Maa kali through  Danda Nacha

On this particular day, a small pot filled with pana or a sweet drink  mixture of Mishri and water is hung on a basil (Tulsi) plant. There is a hole at the bottom of this pot which allows the water to fall from the pot, representing rain. The flour of horse gram chhatua, along with banana curd, is consumed by the people of odisha after offering it to the Tulsi plant. Special offerings are made to Shalagram, Shivalinga, Hanuman, and other deities.

 The devi temples of Cuttack Chandi, Biraja, Samaleswari temple and Sarala become crowded, which is called Jhaamu Yatra. In Northern Orissa it is called Chadak Parva. In Southern Orissa the day is celebrated as the end of month-long Danda nata, and the final ceremony is known as Meru Yatra. People all over the state worship Hanuman on this day and celebrate it as his birthday. People enjoy chhatua and Bel Pana with great pleasure.



Thursday, 6 September 2012

TaraTarini Mela - Festivals of Odisha

TaraTarini Mela is  one of the famous and biggest fair and festival of Ganjam District but also throughout the state Odisha, also known as  Chaitra Parba or Chaitra Mela, which takes place on each Tuesday in the month of Chaitra i.e., from around mid March to mid-April at Tara Tarini pitha at a distance of 30 Kms from Berhampur.

On Tuesday the temple remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 1.00 AM (mid-night on Monday) till 11 PM (of Tuesday). During that period Pahada of the deities is confined to night-time only.

Thousands of devotees come from every corner  of the district as well as out side the State in order to have darshan of Goddess TaraTarini , congregate at the up-hill and downhill temple complex from Monday night.
 A grand congregation takes place on the 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month is considered to be most auspicious days.

Devotees are offered puja to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Pitha for the Bije Pratima. However Darshan of the deities in Garbha Griha (Sanctum of the main temple) is allowed.

Hair offering are made in Special arrangement for. 250 barbers at the hill top and more than 500 barbers at the down hill (Foot Hill) at the barber shed are engaged to help their hair offering of their children and other devotees. Hair offering continues from mid-night on Monday till 6 PM of Tuesday  and serve a sweet food item called amutmani bhoga( mixture of curd, milk, ghee, honey, sugar and also dry friuts and fruits) which is very taste offered to goddess Maa TaraTarini.. It is the main specialty of this mela. After offering hair devotees are celebrated through feast.

    Special Khechidi Bhoga (Fried Rice) is supplied to the devotees and also other sweet items.

    The legendary information on Tara Tarini has been given in the chapter  tourist spot  for reference of the visitors.