Holi 2025: Myths & legends behind Dola Purnima

As the Festival of Colors, Holi, is just three days away, celebrated on March 15, 2025, the spirit of celebration begins to rise across India. For the people of Odisha, the festivities are heightened with another vibrant and significant occasion - Dola Purnima. Known as the spring festival, Dola Purnima marks the full moon day of the Falguna month, and it is particularly celebrated in the coastal districts of Odisha.

Join the Whatsapp Channel to Get News updates in english

This year, the festival takes on special significance as it coincides with Holi, and the festivities at the revered Srimandir (Jagannath Temple) in Puri promise a colorful, spiritual, and joyous celebration.

Dola Purnima, a festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Jagannath in the form of Dola Govinda, heralds the arrival of spring. In Odisha, it is closely linked to the Holi festival, which is celebrated over five days, beginning with Phagu Dasami and culminating on Dola Purnima itself.

During this time, the iconic Dola Yatra (the Swing Festival) takes place, where the idol of Lord Jagannath, along with Goddess Sridevi, is placed on a swing and adorned with colors. The colorful event symbolizes the joyful union of Radha and Krishna, as devotees celebrate the season of love, joy, and the advent of spring.

At the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the festivities begin early on Dola Purnima, with the temple doors opening at 3 am. According to tradition, Lord Jagannath is dressed in the Chacheri Besa, which is a ceremonial attire for the occasion. For the next few days, devotees and priests alike gather to honor the deity with prayers and offerings of Gulal (colored powder), reflecting the festive spirit of Holi.

One of the most significant rituals at the Jagannath Temple during Dola Purnima is the Raja Dhiraj Besa, also known as the Suna Besa or Golden Attire. Lord Jagannath and his companion, Goddess Sridevi, are adorned with gold and diamond jewelry before being placed on the Dola Bedi (the altar) for worship. Devotees then gather to apply colors to the deities as part of the ritual. This marks the symbolic victory of Lord Vishnu over the demon Holika, as part of the mythological significance of the festival.

Myths and Legends Behind Dola Purnima

The roots of Dola Purnima are deeply entwined with Hindu mythology. The festival is believed to have evolved from the Madanotsava (festival of Madan, the god of love), which was later incorporated into the worship of Lord Krishna. The festival celebrates the romantic union of Radha and Krishna, and images of both deities are placed on swings during the ceremony, with devotees offering colored powders as a symbol of love and joy.

An essential mythological connection is to the legend of Prahlad and Holika, where Prahlad, a devout follower of Lord Vishnu, was saved from the fiery death that his demon aunt Holika had planned for him. According to the story, Holika’s attempt to burn Prahlad in the fire failed, while she herself perished in the flames. This victory of good over evil is commemorated during Holi and Dola Purnima as a reminder of the power of devotion and the triumph of righteousness.

Throughout Odisha, the Dola Purnima celebrations are not limited to the temple; they extend to the villages, where idols of Lord Krishna and other deities are carried in Veemanas (decorated palanquins) around the locality. The Sankirtana Mandalis (devotional music groups) lead the procession, which halts at various households for offerings of bhog (food offerings) and prayers. As the idols are paraded, devotees smear each other with abira (colored powder), a ritual that marks the beginning of the Holi festivities.

One of the unique features of the celebration is the swing festival or Dola Jatra, where the deities are placed on swings, and devotees engage in singing devotional songs in unison. In ancient times, this event was celebrated at the Dola Mandap near the Jagannath Temple, which was later moved to the Dola Bedi due to the breaking of the deity’s arm during one of the swings. The celebration is a visual and spiritual spectacle, combining religious devotion, music, dance, and the joy of colors.

While Dola Purnima is primarily a festival of devotion and spring celebration, it also marks the beginning of the new year in some regions of Odisha, with the reading of the new Odia Panji (almanac) being an important ritual.

The festival brings communities together, with Melanas (fairs) organized in different districts where local handicrafts, agricultural goods, and festive items are sold. It is also a time for families and communities to bond over prayers, songs, and dances, as well as through the act of smearing each other with colors, which symbolizes the breaking down of social barriers.

On the final day of Dola Purnima, after the deities are brought back to the temple in the evening, a fire sacrifice known as Agni Utsav is conducted. This marks the conclusion of the five-day celebration, which includes a series of rituals such as Madhyana Dhoopa, Chacheri Bhoga, and Phagu Lagi (the sprinkling of colored powders). The deities are then returned to their respective shrines, and the festival comes to a close, leaving behind a trail of joy, love, and spiritual devotion.