Dola Poornima: Unique Festival when God descends on the streets

Dola Utsav of Odisha 

In the towns and villages of Odisha, the Dola festival is celebrated in the Shukla Paksha of Falguna. The Dola Yatra begins from the tenth day of the Shukla Paksha of Falguna ( bright half of lunar month Falguna) . This day is known as “Fagu Dashami” throughout Odisha. In various parts of the state, especially in the villages, the deities ( Shri Radha & Shri Krishna)  come out of the temples and travel around the village in palanquins. During this time, offerings are offered to the deities from every household of the village.

This is the Dola Biman of Kathagada Sahi, Cuttack made of 3kg of gold. Around 20 Dola Biman of different sahis ( colonies )of Cuttack have already been made of silver.

At this time Khaja (ଖଜା), Feni ( ଫେଣି) , Chana( ଚଣା) , Sakar ( ସାକର),  Khai ( ଖଇ) , Muan ( ମୁଆଁ ) and Ukhuda ( ଉଖୁଡା) etc. are now being offered to Radha &  Krishna.  Earlier all these delicacies were made with jaggery . After the introduction of sugar, it is made with both sugar and jaggery.  Earlier, the villagers used to prepare these vogas ( offerings ). It is now available in pooja material shops in the city market.  Another special feature of this festival is that the dola biman ( the  throne of the Radha & Krishna)  is newly decorated with a Demphalga Ambakasi (  ଡେମ୍ଫ ଲଗା ଆମ୍ବ କଷି , unripe mangoes attached to the twigs) and is hung in front of the biman . 

Shri Radha and Shri Krishna are the deities worshiped in this festival. On “Fagu Dashami” , vermilion is smeared everywhere and offered to Shri Radha and Shri Krishna. Primarily, the divine couple Shri Radha and Shri Krishna are seated in a palanquin and They are moved around in villages .

Before playing Holi, there is a tradition in Odisha to observe “Dola poornima ( ଦୋଳ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା)”…that is on the previous day of Holi . After performing pooja and bhoga at each house, people on this occasion carry Shri Krishna and Shri Radha in Dola biman on their shoulders to a festival field, more commonly referred to as melan padia ( ମେଳଣ ପଡିଆ) . In front of the Lord, people play with colors (Abira ଅବିର). Dola ( ଦୋଳ ) is a significant event that is deeply ingrained in odia culture. On that day, Lord Jagannath is adored as Dola Govinda ( ଦୋଳ ଗୋବିନ୍ଦ) on the swing platform known as the dola bedi ( ଦୋଳ ବେଦୀ). In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Chaitanya is considered as a saviour of Bhakti renaissance. He is considered as the consolidated reincarnation of both Shri Radha and Shri Krishna. Dola & Holi festival is even more significant as it marks the birth of Chaitanya ( 18th February 1486, that was on Falgun full moon day Dola poornima, ଦୋଳ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା) . Additionally he founded the Gaudiya Vaishnavism faith . It has been proved that Chaitanya spent the last part of his life in the abode of Mahaprabhu Jagannath at Puri.

 As the festival is held for five days, it is known as “Panchu Dola Yatra” and in many places, the festival ends on the full moon day ( better known as Dola poornima) itself.  In the place where the festival is celebrated for six days, it is called “Shada Dola” festival and the festival celebrated for nine days is called “Nava Dola”.

Dr Manoj Mishra ,lunarsecstasy@gmail.com