Significance of Dola Purnima in Odisha
By Srikanta Mohanty: In the pristine statehood of Odisha, the auspicious occasion of Dola Poornima is much awaited as it gets celebrated with fervor and joy. Traditionally, it is the last day of ceremony of worship of Radha and Krishna. Holi-the festival of gaiety and colors- arrives on the next day that millions of people observe by applying color powder to each other.
As the great customs in Odisha go, Lord Jagannath gets worshipped as Dola Govinda or Kriishna during this festival. Being the full-moon or Poornima day, the day also has its place as ‘Basanta Utsav’ or spring festival in Odia almanac. The occasion comes on the full moon day or Poornima and ‘Krishna’ or “Dola Govinda’ becomes the center of attraction with various forms of his worship all-over Odisha.
“After Rathyatra or car festival, Dola Poornima is the most popular festival in Odisha. Innumerable monasteries and devotees of Krishna celebrate the day, while singing the names of Radha and Krishna. As our Kalia Thakura is the very epitome of the Lord, the occasion gets commemorated in His name amid the chanting of Lord’s innumerable names. Literally, the festival gets culminated in the colorful celebration of Holi”-Says Sujata Patra-an ardent devotee of Lord Jagannath.
Worshipping Krishna and Radha in the swing is the favorite option for millions of His devotees in the state. The six day long festival is also very popular as Dola Jatra. Smearing the deities in the color of Abira (red and violet colored powders) is another ritualistic practice during the popular worship. In the end, the idols of God and Goddess get carried in palanquin that hundreds of thousands of devotees watch with indescribable joy. At the end of the four days ceremony, where Krishna and Radha take their tours in palanquin, the last day brings the final round of Lord’s swinging in the swing to the accompaniment of devotional music and song.
As the temple city is very popular for observance of simple Holi after the celebration of ceremony of Dola, several monasteries and dotted presence of Krishna and Jagannath temples celebrate this unique festival with unique joy amid chanting of God’s name. The day following brings the festival of colors as young and old alike take part in the colorful play of abira and spray of color-mixed water.
“Holi is literally innocuous at Bhubaneswar as nobody applies color or sprays color-mixed water on the unknown passers-by. It has so far stayed a day to share intimacy through colors with the known people. But the other parts of Odisha go through intense play of Holi by applying colors and spraying of water that do not even spare the innocent walkers on the street and people passing in the vehicles.
The distant corners of this ancient state go though most intense worship of Krishna on the day of Poornima and color play on the day of Holi. This exceptional festival unites one and all at one place and it gets the opportunity to share and care with each other by dismantling the barriers between human-beings’-smiles Smita Pattnaik, while getting ready for the bout of color that falls on the 24th of March in this year.