Rathajatra: The festival of Rathjatra is inspired from Rathajatra in Puri. Since independence when Kalahandi became part of Odisha state the dominance of coastal Oriya culture has influenced Kalahandi. Number of new Jagganath temples have come over Kalahandi since 1950 and celebration of Rathajatra is increasing realized. This is also boosted by immigrant business community and Government officials from coastal Odisha and Berhampur region.
Shivaratri:
Holi:
Janmastami:
Ramnabami:
Local specials
Chhatar Jatra: The festival is celebrated in Bhawanipatna
Khandabasa: The festival is celebrated in Junagarh in the Lankeswari Temple.
Nuakhai:
This is typically a local festival prevalent in Western Odisha including Kalahandi. It is inspired from harvesting of new crops and historically came from tribal. But now everybody irrespective of caste, creed and religion celebrate it. Many tribal converted Christian do celebrate Nuakhai in the region. There are many kinds of Nuakhai according to tribal culture, out of which Dhan (Rice) Nuakhai is most popularly celebrated.
Pora Uans:
Amnuan: This is Nuakhai celebration for Am (Mango).
Kandulnuan: This festival is meant for Nuakhai of Kandul (one kind of lentil)
Seminuan: This is Nuakhai celebration for Semi, one kind of beans.
Dumernuan: This Nuakhai resemblances that of a kind of forest fruit known as Dumer.
Kendunuan: This Nuakhai is meant for Kendu, another kind of forest fruit.
Kalahandi Utsav: Along with the district administration this festival is celebrated in Bhawanipatna and Dharamgarh.
Paraja, Permanji: This is a private initiated festivals on tribal culture and life.
Chaitra or Chait
