Ashokastami or Ashok Ashtami festival is observed on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami day on which Durgashtami is also observed during Basant Navratri. This festival is mainly celebrated in Orissa, Bengal, Tripura and some other parts of Eastern India. In 2010, Ashokashtami date is March 23. As the festival falls during Basant Navratri or Chaitra Navratri, it is also celebrated as Chaitra Durgashtami.

Ashokastami festival is celebrated with utmost gaiety and much pomp in Tripura and Orissa. In Bhubaneswar Lingaraj Temple and Puri Loknath Temple, the festival marks the grand celebrations. On this day, Lingaraj Rathyatra is held in Bhubaneswar. Lord Bhandar Loknath is taken in a procession to Isaneswar Mahadev to perform ritual ceremonies. In Tripura, at Unakoti Theertha near Kailashahar Ashokastami Jatra or a fair is organized.

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Sheetal Shashti, also spelt as Sital Sashti or Shital Sasthi, is the vow observed on the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Jyeshta month. Sheetal Sashti 2010 date is 17^th June, 2010. This festival is especially celebrated in Brahmin communities of Orissa. It is the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

To beget a child this vow is observed on the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha of the Magha month. After daily ablutions, Sheetla Devi is worshipped in 16 steps known as Shodhashopchar. Cold eatables are offered to the Goddess and stale food is eaten after this. After food religious rites are performed to appease the Goddess.

Sital Sashti is celebrated in grand manner at Puri Loknath Temple, Bhubaneswar Lingaraj Temple, and Sambalpur Temple. Tens of thousands of people throng the temples to catch the event of Shiva Parvati Kalyan.

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Samba Dashami vrat, also known as Surya Puja, is observed on the 10^th day in Shukla Paksha in Pausha month. In 2009, Samba Dashami or Surya Puja date is December 27. This festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagwan, mainly observed in Orissa.

Legends or Samba Dasami vrat katha say that Samba, the son of Lord Sri Krishna, was affected by leprosy. He performed a severe penance for Surya Bhagwan and was cured. On this day, mothers perform Surya Puja to please Surya Bhagawan and to keep their children healthy.

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Dhanu Yatra is celebrated during Pausa month or Paush maas in Baragarh of Orissa. Dhanu Yatra 2009 begins on December 20, 2009 and ends on December 27, 2009. The festival starts at 6 am on December 20, 2009 and ends at 11.55 pm on December 29, 2009. Dhanu Yatra commemorates the visit of Lord Krishna to Mathura.

Dhanu Yatra is also commemorates the victory of Lord Sri Krishna over his uncle Kansa. During this festival, people play various dramas based on the the Puranic descriptions. The major celebrations will take place on Pausa Purnima.

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As the Kartik month is favorite month for Lord Vishnu, Lord Puri Jagannath is worshipped with special pujas and rituals on this day. Lakhs of Vishnu devotees perform ritual bath in the sea and offer their prayers to Lord Jagannath. During Kartik Purnima day, deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are adorned jubilantly with gold ornaments and flower garlands. This ritual is known as ‘Raje Rajeswari Bheas’.

During Kartik Purnima, not only in Puri but in whole Orissa, people take ritual bath along the river banks of Mahanadi, Chandrabhaga, Baitarini and Rusikulya. On this day, ‘Bali Yatra’ festival starts at Cuttack.

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