The day marks for the propitiation of Saraswati, the Goddess of learning. It is known as Sripanchami or Basanta Panchami. The words 'Sree' and 'Basanta' are significant to the festival. 'Sree' is beauty and the other name of 'Saraswati' and Basanta is the spring season which brings beauty and pleasure to the Earth.

The festival is celebrated in January-February. This day students seek the blessings of Devi Saraswati to enhance their academic pursuit. Puja is performed before the image of the goddess and students observe fast till they make a floral offering (pushpanjali) to Devi around mid-day.

The festival Maha Shiva Ratri – Lord Shiva’s Night - falls on the 14th day of the dark half of Phalgun and is observed by devotees all over the country. Devotees observe fast and perform puja throughout the night and keep a vigil to witness the sacred lamp on the temple top. The festival can be best enjoyed at Mahendragiri, Gupteswar, Kapilas, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Khiching. It is the day of Lord Shiva's appearance in the universe. There is a custom of remaining awake throughout the night by chanting or listening to hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.

Dola, popularly known as Holi, is the festival of colours celebrated on Phalgun Purnima and the day succeeding. Based on the romantic plays of Radha and Krishna, people converge on the streets with their idols on gaily decorated 'Vimanas' singing devotional songs in their praise and throwing color powders (Phagu) and coloured water on each other. It falls in March and April all over Orissa on the full-moon day. It marks the advent of spring. This is the concluding day of six-day long worship of Radha and Krishna, which starts on Phagu Dasami.

It is the Car Festival of Lord Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar, Asokastami is held in the bright half of 'Chaitra'. The protege of Lord Lingaraj is taken in the chariot from the main temple to Mausima Temple and return after a four-day stay.

The birthday of Lord Rama is observed as Ramanavami on the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra. Though there are very few temples dedicated to Rama in Orissa, this festival is widely celebrated by staging Ram Leela based on the famous epic ‘The Ramayana’. Beginning from this day the performances continue for over a month. Some observe fast on the day and take food only after visiting the temple. It is also the celebration of Lord Rama’s wedding with Goddess Seeta. Devotees offer puja by visiting the temples of Lord Rama. At several places like Asureswar in Cuttack district and Dasapalla in Nayagarh, the Rama Leela is held with great sanctity.

The celebration of marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva with Parvati starts with the untying of the wedding knot of the Devine couple. Devotees act as their parents to perform the marriage rituals. The bridegroom's procession popularly known as 'Barat' begins on the 5th night of Jyestha (May) and the marriage is solemnized in the traditional manner on the 6th day. In many Shiva temples across the state, the wedding celebrations are arranged in a grand manner. The Barat is offered delicacies in celebration of the celestial wedding. This festival is prevalent among the Brahmins of the State. It is believed that Shiva became furious after Jagara Amavasya and was cooled down only after marriage to Parvati. So, this marriage festival is called Sital Sasthi.

This fair is celebrated for twenty-one days in Jyestha' (May-June). When a smaller replica of Lord Jagannath is taken to the sacred tank for boating after being smeared with 'chandan' or sandal wood paste. This is aimed at providing cool comfort and relief from the summer heat. This is celebrated at places where there is a Jagannath temple and a lot of merriment goes with it when pilgrims congregate. The main centre of this fair is at Puri, the celebrated 'shrikhetra'; the original seat of Lord Jagannath.

The fair at Chandrabhaga begins on the seventh day of the bright fortnight in the lunar month of Magha (January-February) and continues for seven days. It is held at the mouth of sacred Chandrabhaga River near the famous temple of Konark. This sacred site figures in the myth of Samba of the Mahabharata days who was cured of his leprosy by worshipping Lord Surya, the Sun God. Magha Saptami mela is observed at the same time at the Jain centre of Khandagiri, near Bhubaneswer, for seven days.

It is the day of return journey of Lord Jagannath from the Gundicha Mandir. It is celebrated with the same pomp and gaiety as that of Ratha Yatra.

It is celebrated as a way of thanks giving to Mother Earth. Celebrated especially in western Orissa on a predetermined day in the Oriya month of Bhadrab it features partaking of the first grains of paddy after harvesting the kharif crop. All in the family and community join together to partake of the holy offering in leaf cups sitting on the ground facing towards east. It is celebrated in the Western Orissa with much pomp and grandeur. Nuakhai Bhetghats are organized at various places to mark the occasion.

It marks the beginning of a period of 15 days to perform shraddha for paying tributes to one’s departed ancestors. It is performed wishing peaceful stay of the departed ones in heaven.

It is a practice among pious Oriyas to give up non-vegetarian food such as fish, meat and egg during the entire month of Kartik. However, those who are not in a position to abstain from non-vegetarian foods during the entire month, have the option to give it up for five days beginning from Panchuka. There is a popular proverb in Oriya which says that even the fish-hunting bird crane does not touch fish during these five days.

On every Thursday in the Oriya month of Margasir Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped with utmost devotion by Oriya women. They wake up very early in the morning and clean the house, for it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi would never visit the house if the house remains dirty and untidy. The entrance as well as the door step of the house is decorated with artistic Orissan alpana (called Chita or jhoti). A pot made of bamboo canes used in the olden days for measuring paddy (known as mana) is filled up to the brink with freshly harvested paddy. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits every house-hold during the puja. It is a custom to recite the Lakshmi Purana, written by ancient poet Balaram Das, while performing the puja

The tenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Pousha is known as Samba Dasami. This day is dedicated to the worship of the Sun God and is peculiar to Orissa. There is a legend attached to the festival, which tells about how and when the festival started. Samba was the most handsome son of Krishna who was also very proud. He never paid any respect to his elders & spent his life in licentious habits.

Once, he came across Narada who is revered by all gods & goddesses. But Samba didn't pay any respect to him. Narada made a false allegation against him before Krishna, that he had seen him in love-play with Gopis who are to be respected like his mother. Enraged with this, Krishna cursed him to be afflicted with leprosy. Samba lost his handsome features. Narada never believed that the curse would be so severe and he repented. He asked Samba to go to Maitreya Bana to sit in penance to receive the blessings of Sun God who can only cure him from the disease. Samba sat in penance for 12 years. Sun God cured him from the disease & the day he was cured is being observed as Samba Dasami.

The Bondas of Koraput are an interesting primitive tribe. They live on hilltops and lead a secluded life. Their interaction with other tribes is very rare. Among many festivals of the year, their most important festival is known as Sume Gelirak.

Youth look forward to this festival as it gives them ample freedom in all respects. Festival starts on Sundays and continues for 10 days. During the first few days, they worship their traditional Godlings and demons. The Sisa or the tribal priest performs the rituals of sacrificing animals and birds and propitiating the deities with liquor. Singing and dancing follow.

This festival is observed in places like Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar. The participating devotees are called Bhakta. In a village field, a long staff is fixed horizontally on a perpendicular pole. The Bhaktas, after having bathed and other rituals move in a dancing procession to this place. They are accompanied by a cheering crowd and loud beating of drums. A huge congregation at the field awaits their arrival. Then, one by one, they are tied to the horizontal staff with a long cloth at the shoulders. Ankle-bells are fitted on their feet.

Viswakarma is known as the divine engineer. As a mark of reverence, he is still worshipped by the engineering community. The festival is observed on the Kanya Sankranti Day, which follows Ganesh Puja, in every industrial town of Orissa. Towns like Hirakud, Rourkela present the most colorful ceremonies on the occasion and display fire wakes in collusion with modern technology.

In India, months and years are counted on the basis of lunar or solar eclipses. According to the solar system, the month is counted from Sankranti and in lunar system, it is calculated from Purnima. Visuba Sankranti is the first day of the month. In northern India, it is called Jala Sankranti. In southern India, it is called Pongal and in Orissa it is called Pana Sankranti. It has been named so, because the main drink offering, pana is prepared on this occasion.

It is only two occasions namely Mesha Sankranti and Tula Sankranti that the sun fully shines on the equator. Further, on these two dates, the length of days and nights remain equal. After Mesha Sankranti, sun moves to north as our country is situated to the north of equator. So, from this day of first movement of the sun from Mesha Sankranti, the New Year is counted. This day is considered to be an auspicious day all around the year.

This is also known as Mahima Mela and celebrated at Joranda in Dhenkanal on Magha Purnima. People from far and wide congregate here. A big fair takes place here for three days. Mahima Sanyasis worship Mahima Gosain's Samadhi Pitha on this occasion.

It is a folk festival held on the last day of Pausha, based on popular beliefs as well as rituals associated with harvesting. Tusu is imagined as a young girl, and is worshipped by songs improvised by womenfolk. At the end of the festivities the immersion of the image of Tusu is done vividly and with songs which have a melancholic ring. Rural fairs are organised at the time when the festival is held.

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus. Also known as Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Ved Vyas. He is the Adi (original) Guru of the Hindu Dharma, who classified the Vedas, wrote the eighteen Puranas and the Mahabharat. On this day, the Guru is offered Pujan (worship) by the disciples.