Bhubaneswar: With Durga Puja slated from September 28 to October 2, the City is gearing up for grand celebrations. Artisans are busy constructing elaborate pandals, installing idols, and setting up cultural stages.
The ten-day festival, honouring the goddess as a symbol of femininity and power, remains a major socio-cultural event, showcasing art, music, dance, food, and traditional rituals such as Sindoor Khela and Dhunuchi Naach.
In recent years, one celebration has expanded beyond its traditional roots: Dandiya Nights. Originally a hallmark of Gujarat’s Navratri, the vibrant dance festival has evolved into a cultural bridge, attracting participants from diverse communities across Bhubaneswar.
“Many think Navratri in Gujarat is just about wearing ghagra choli and dancing, but it’s much more,” says Arpita Rathod, Project Staff at Ravenshaw University and a Gujarati herself.
“Traditionally, Garba features a decorated clay pot lit with a diya, symbolising devotion, around which people dance while singing folk songs.
Dandiya with sticks became part of the celebration over time. Today, even outside Gujarat, it is celebrated on a grand scale. In big cities, celebrities perform, passes can be expensive, and some folk elements get lost, but it still brings people together in joy.”
The festival’s inclusivity adds to its charm. Simpu Agrawal Sahoo, a Marwari entrepreneur, notes, “Dandiya isn’t originally part of our culture. In Marwari households, we observe Kanya Bhojan on the 8th or 9th day of Navratri, worshipping nine girls as forms of Durga.
Yet, I’ve been playing Dandiya since I was 12 because it celebrates womanhood and togetherness.
Every year, my group participates at Pardarshini Padia, making it a cherished tradition. For many Gujaratis living away from their home state, the festival evokes nostalgia.
Renuka Joshi, who works from home in Bhubaneswar, describes it as “the most magical time of the year.” She adds, “In Gujarat, grounds are booked months in advance, and the celebrations are massive.
Now, in Odisha too, it has gained widespread acceptance. From restaurants adjusting menus to shops thriving with festive sales, the entire city feels transformed.”
Organisers confirm its growing popularity. Umakanta Tandi, Media In-charge of Prayas, which has hosted Dandiya Nights in Bhubaneswar for 12 years, says, “Earlier, we had around 2,000 attendees; now we see 5,000–6,000 daily. This year, our event at Pardarshini Padia runs from September 26 to October 2, with tickets priced at Rs200.
We prioritise safety, with women-led security, vegetarian stalls, and participant facilities. The event is no longer limited to Gujaratis; people from all communities join in.”
PNN