Bhubaneswar: The earliest documented evidence of Holi celebrations in Odisha appears in temple inscriptions from the 12th century during the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. These inscriptions at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar mention "Dola Yatra" or "Dola Purnima," Odisha's distinctive version of Holi.
"These inscriptions tell us that by the 12th century, Holi was already an established tradition in Odisha, but with a regional flavor that emphasized devotional aspects," explains Dr. Sarojini Pradhan, a cultural historian specializing in Odishan festivals.
In Odisha, Holi celebrations historically revolved around temple rituals rather than community color play. The tradition of "Dola Melana," where deities from various temples are brought together on decorated swings (dolas), remains a central feature to this day.
"What makes Odisha's Holi unique is its spiritual foundation," notes Rabindra Narayan Sahoo, a temple priest from Puri. "Even when colors are thrown, it's considered an offering of joy to Lord Krishna and Radha, not merely a social activity."
Archaeological evidence from the Sun Temple of Konark, built in the 13th century, features carvings depicting celebrations resembling Holi, with musical instruments and what appears to be colored powder. These suggest that by this period, colors had become integral to the festivities.
The use of colors in Odisha's Holi carries profound symbolic significance. According to palm-leaf manuscripts from the 16th century found in Raghurajpur, a heritage crafts village near Puri, colors were initially derived from natural sources with medicinal properties.
"Our ancestors used turmeric, neem, kumkum, and flower extracts to create colors that would not only celebrate spring but also prepare the body for the changing season," explains Bijay Kumar Parida, an artisan from Raghurajpur who still creates natural Holi colors using traditional methods.
The 17th-century text "Madala Panji," the chronicle of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, contains detailed accounts of how Lord Jagannath would be adorned with colors during Dola Purnima, suggesting that by this time, color play had been fully integrated into religious practices.
"The temple records tell us that special 'phagu' (colored powder) would be prepared by temple servants using sandalwood, aromatic herbs, and flower extracts," shares Durga Charan Mohanty, a researcher of Jagannath culture. "This sacred phagu would first be offered to the deities before the royal family and then common people could use it."
The Gajapati Kings of Puri further institutionalized Holi celebrations between the 16th and 18th centuries. Royal records indicate that the king would host grand Dola ceremonies where colors would be exchanged as a symbol of breaking social barriers.
"There's a beautiful mention in a 1734 court document about King Ramachandra Deva II playing Holi with his subjects, allowing even the lowest castes to throw colors at him—something radical for those times," notes historian Rajat Kumar Kara.
British colonial accounts from the 19th century describe Odisha's Holi as "more orderly and devotional" compared to northern celebrations. Lieutenant James Peggs, in his 1846 journal, wrote: "The Ooriya people [Odias] celebrate their Dola festival with curious restraint, focusing more on swinging their gods than throwing their colors, though the latter practice is gaining popularity."
The fusion of religious reverence with playful color traditions continues to define Odisha's Holi celebrations. In contemporary times, while the influence of North Indian Holi has led to more boisterous celebrations in urban areas, rural Odisha still preserves many ancient traditions.
"In my village near Balasore, we still begin Holi by applying colors to the feet of elders before any play begins," says Mamata Jena, a schoolteacher. "It's our way of connecting to ancestors who believed colors should be applied with respect, not thrown wildly."
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Odisha's Holi is how it represents cultural adaptation. What began as primarily a religious observance gradually incorporated elements of joy and social bonding through colors while maintaining its spiritual core.
As spring arrives each year in Odisha, temple bells chime, wooden dolas (swings) appear in village squares, and the air fills with melodious Odishi tunes. The colors that follow are not just pigments but carriers of a heritage that has evolved over centuries.
"When I apply abira (colored powder) during Dola Purnima," reflects Ananta Mahapatra, an octogenarian from Cuttack, "I'm not just celebrating spring or following tradition. I'm reconnecting with a thousand years of ancestors who found divinity in these simple colors."
