Do you know the history behind Danda Nata ?

Danda Nata or Danda Jatra is one of the most important traditional dance festivals organized in different parts of South Odisha and particularly in the Ganjam District, the heartland of ancient Kalinga Empire. 

The Danda Nata festival is being held in the month of Chaitra of every year.

It is an ancient festival of the Kalinga kingdom and still alive in and around the ancient Kalinga capital Sampa/Samapa i.e. modern day Ganjam District in Odisha. 

The Participants of Danda are called Danduas (also known as Bhoktas) and they pray Goddesses Kali and Shiva during this 13, 18 or 21 day Danda period.

Danda begins on an auspicious day before the Chaitra Sankranti or Meru Parba with traditional worship and fasting. The total number of days for the festival is 13, 18 or 21 days. 

Only male persons take part in this festival. The participants are known as the 'Bhoktas'.

All the `Bhoktas` or 'Danduas' lead a very pious life for all these days during the festival and they avoid eating meat, fish or cohabiting during this period.

It is believed that the present day Danda Nata is a part of the ancient Chaitra Yatra festivals being celebrated every year at Tara Tarini Shakti/Tantra Peetha. 

The Kalinga Emperors organised this Chaitra festival for their Ista devi, Tara Tarini.

As per folk lore, during ancient period after 20 days of Danda practice the Danduas have to assemble near Taratarini Shakti/Tantra Peetha (which is ista devi of the Great Kalinga rulers) and with some hard rituals culminate their Danda on the last day on Meru.

This practice continued for several years and Chaitra Yatra which is still celebrated at Tara Tarini Shakti/Tantra Peetha in the month of Chaitra, is also another part of that old tradition. 

But later this Danda Nata spread to different parts of Utkala and Koshala. 

Now the old tradition was changed. Danda Nata groups increased abnormally and the Danduas culminating their Danda in their own villages or locality instead of Tara Tarini Shakti/Tantra Peetha.

- Ram Prasad Tripathy