Danda, a festival of the people’s belief

The Danda Festival, also known as Danda Yatra in Odisha, is a unique cultural and religious festival celebrated throughout the state. It is one of the oldest festivals in the region and holds significant cultural and religious importance. 

Spanning 13 days, Danda Yatra takes place during the month of Chaitra, culminating on the day of Pana Sankranti, which marks the Odia new year. The festival is dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity lord Shiva and is celebrated to seek his blessings for prosperity, fertility, and well-being. 

It is also associated with the agricultural cycle, as it occurs during the sowing season. During the festival, devotees known as bhaktas undertake a pilgrimage, visiting various villages and sacred sites associated with lord Shiva.

The villagers of Lochapali, which falls within the Kaimati panchayat of Dhenkanal district, celebrate Danda Yatra with gaiety. “We have been celebrating the festival for a long time. Our forefathers started this yatra (procession) just after one year of Independence. We are continuing the tradition,”, said Rajan Kumar Sahoo, organiser, Lochapali Danda Utsav Committee.   

The bhaktas, also known as danduas, dress in traditional attire and carry decorated sticks or dandas, while travelling from village to village, performing rituals, singing devotional songs, and offering prayers to lord Shiva. 

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The procession takes along musical instruments, including drums, cymbals, and conch shells, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. Along the way, the danduas also engage in various cultural performances, including folk dances, skits, and dramas, depicting mythological stories and local legends. 

At each stop, offerings such as fruits, flowers, coconuts, and sacred water are made to lord Shiva at temples and shrines along the way. The danduas walk over burning coal in one of the most memorable highlights of Danda Yatra.   

The Danda Festival is not only a religious event but also a celebration of Odia culture, heritage, and community solidarity. It fosters a sense of unity and camaraderie among the participants and promotes the preservation of traditional art forms and rituals.

It concludes with great fanfare on the day of Pana Sankranti, with danduas returning to their respective villages after completing the pilgrimage. The Danda festival leaves a lasting impression on participants and spectators, reaffirming their faith, cultural identity, and social bonds.

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Subranshu Satpathy is a freelance journalist based in Odisha.