Kumar Purnima Festival in Puri

Festivals in Orissa are exciting in their rare vigor, spiritual passion and a splatter of insignia put together with beats that differ from region to region and tribe to tribe. The devout tinge in proceedings of all origin and principle bring together the festivals and fiestas in an accord of dances, melody and Yatras that complete Orissa's calendar year where festivals in Orissa are concerned. The month of October observes some of the main events of Hinduism. In Orissa, the festivals have a special color, which is trait of the state.

Orissa is the land of very old temples and a state where diverse types of beliefs thrive. This state is visited by pilgrims all through the year. A large number of fiestas and carnivals are celebrated in the state. There are festivals relating to each creed, tribal festivals, and events connecting to Lord Jagannath, the controlling god of the Puri Temple, and many regular displays and fairs as well as unique festivals such as the Konark Dance Festival, the Rajarani Music Festival, the Puri Beach Festival and Konark Festival.

The Kumar Purnima festival is celebrated in the month of Aswina. On this day, the devotees on behalf of Shri Jagannath and Shri Lakshmi play dice. Although this festival is celebrated in respect of Lakshmi, the divinity of prosperity has also a folk feature to it. The two sets of priests, one in lieu of Lord Jagannath and other Goddess Laxmi play dice on this festival. Nevertheless, this satisfies the Lords.

In addition to this some other festivals celebrated in the Temple are Sayan Ekadasi, Samazik Chori, Chitalagi, Gamha, Purnima, Krishan-Lila, Magha-Purnima, Bakula Amabasya, Odham Sasthi, Puri Sahi Yatra, dance festival, songs festival and completely tourist oriented cultural burlesques are organized at Puri in the month of April through March.