Bhubaneswar, Mar 14: Dola Utsav was celebrated amid religious fervor across Odisha today. Holi, the festival of colors, will be celebrated tomorrow.

Palinquins carrying joint adols of Shree Radha and Shree Krishna were seen moving in village sahis and streets of cities. Dola Mahotsav was celebrated ritually in Puri, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and other cities.

Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were adorned with gold ornaments. The Trinity took the Suna Besha on the occasion of Dola Purnima.

Dolagovinda, the representative idol of Lord Jagannath, played Abira (organic colours) with Bhudevi and Shridevi at the Dolabedi in Shreemandir. Lakhs of devotees thronged Puri to witness the Dola festival in Shreemandir and the Bada Danda (Grand Road).

A unique Dola Utsav was celebrated at Deogaon Kushaleswar in the Keonjhar district. A ritual, 'Mendhasala Dahana', was the main attraction on the occasion. More than 25 Dola Bimans (Palinquins) carrying joint idols of Lord Krishna and Shree Radha moved in a procession on the village road amid the beating of drums, cymbals, and ghants and the chanting of hulahuli and haribola. Like most other places, Lord Krisna and Shree Radha visit Lord Shiva.

In the millennium city Cuttack, the Dola Utsav was celebrated in every street amid Abira and Holi Khela. The joint idols of Radhakrishna moved in well-decorated Bimans and gathered at Ratha Padia at Dolamundai. The city wore a colourful look with people exchanging colours and holi in all streets.

The Dola Utsav usually begins on Ekadashi and continues for at least 10 days, Dola Purnima being the middle of the celebrations. Dola Melana (gathering of palanquins carrying Radhakrihsna idols) is held in villags. Radhakrishna move to houses to accept offerings from families. This is a unique festival in rural Odisha.

Dola Utsav is specially observed by Gopals (milkmen community) to mark Lord Krishna's presence in Gopapura and His associations with Gopal boys and girls. Special Kahaalis made of buffalo horns are blown in villages. Children in the colourful attires of Bal Krisna and Balaram are also seen moving and playing Holi with villagers.

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