Vrindavan is the place of Lord Krishna and Puri is the sacred ‘Dham’ of Lord Jagannath. When Vrindavan is famous for Lord Krishna’s Holi Utsav, many people across India do not know the importance of Dola Purnima or Dola Utsav in Puri.
As the scared Puri Dham is more known for Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra, Dola Utsav has not been highlighted as it should be.
Lord Jagannath is worshiped as “Dola Govinda” during the Dola Utsav. Dola means swing and utsav is festival. So this is the swing festival of Lord Jagannath which is celebrated with equal pomp and show as that of the festival in Brundavan.
Dola Purnima or ‘Basanta Utsav’ or spring festival in Odia almanac is observed on the full moon day or Poornima. ‘Krishna’ or “Dola Govinda’ becomes the center of attraction with various forms of worship all over Odisha.
Jagannath Dham is the pioneer of the Basant Utsav being celebrated across the State. Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, Lord Jagannath and Lord Sudarshan are decked up in Suna Besa or the golden attire on the Ratna Sinhasan. The godly attire is also called Raja Rajeswar Besa.
Lord’s representative or Govinda along with Sridevi are placed in Dola Bedi where devotees throw different colours on them. The six-day festival, also known as Dola Jatra in Odisha, begins from Falguna Dasami when idols of Lord Krishna are carried in decorated ‘Vimans’ (palanquin).
The devotees and carriers of Vimans are smeared with Abhira or dry colour. The idols are taken on procession and halt at the door step of villagers who worship Lord Krishna to get his blessings.
Like Dussehra, Dola Purnima is also celebrated as a festival marking victory of good over bad. According to Hindu mythology, demon Hiranya Kashyap attempted to kill his son Prahallad, a great devotee of Lord Krishna.
The demon king asked his sister Holika to sit in fire with Prahallad in order to kill him. Holika was blessed by God that she would not be burnt down in fire. However, Holika was burnt alive while Prahallad escaped from fire unhurt. The Holi festival, therefore, derived its name from Holika.
