page_title: Festivals of Kalahandi
section_title: Popular Hindu festivals
hierarchical_section_title: Festivals of Kalahandi / Festivals / Popular Hindu festivals
caption_attribution_description: English: Chhatar Jatra Bhawanipatna
context_page_description: Festivals of Kalahandi are rich in nature as the place is a melting point of South Odisha and Western Odisha. Kalahandi, a district of Odisha, shelters a substantial tribal population residing both in hills and plain land. It is a place where people of different cultures, traditions, languages and beliefs live together.
context_section_description: Dasra (Dasara): Dasara or Durga Puja is celebrated among Hindu all over India, but it is very popular in Eastern part of India including West Bengal, Odisha, Assam etc. However, goddess Durga is known as Shaki (Energy) and most of the goddess based on tribal and Shaki is inspired from goddess Durga. The major goddess of Kalahandi including Mnikeswari, Lankeswari, Denteswari, Khameswari, Bhandargharen etc. are seen as a reflection of goddess Durga and most of the major festivals like  Chhatar Jatra, Kkandabasha, Budharaja Jatra, etc. are celebrated during Dusra. Dusra is significant in all the Skati Pitha in Kalahandi and is one of the popular festival in the region.
  Diel or Deepawali: Also popularly known as Diwali is celebrated in Kalahandi. But this is getting popular due to immigrant business community mainly from Marwadi community, however, slowly it has entered the local stream.
  Rathajatra: The festival of Rathjatra. Chariot of Jagannath from Jagannath temple procession is being observed by everyone in not only Odisha but the whole world.
  Kartik Purnima:This festival is celebrated across kalahandi and one of the major festival of locals, kartik puraan being read through the night and finally at morning the bath clears away the sins.
caption: Chhatra Jatra in Bhawanipatna
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