Fast and festivals are a part of social life in human society. Almost all of them are due to ancestral worship mixed with nature worship and related with time and season. Closely associated with them are Vratas, which deal with special stories, in most cases for the edification of females. The festival and feasts are found in the purpose of continuity and change. Most of them are being observed now a day, were continued in Gajapati period, as a part of social habit while some emerged as new, owing to the impact and action and reaction of various forces both social and cultural.

The celebration of Oshas and Vratas from the common feature of socio-religious life of Hindus since good old days. Fast means abstain from food as a religious duty. Oshas and Vratas are intended to regulate the private life of people by taking recourse toUpavasa (fast), jagaranan  (vigil), Upasana (worship) etc. The vratas performed as per the principles laid down in Vedas and Shastars are called Shastriyas and other vratas which organized in society after Vedic period are called laukikas. Both the sexes observe the Vratas. But Oshas have been categorized. Unmarried girl and others perform some Oshas by married women and rest by widows. Some Oshas are also celebrated by both unmarried and married women. In Oshas and Vratas, predominance of priests is always noticed till today. Indians observe fast and festivals since ages together. Description s are found in different Puranas. According to Bhagabata, a woman gets a good husband, loving children and wealth, if she observes Haritoshana or Punsavana Vrata. Skanda Purana prescribes, that different fasts should be observed in different Tithis or days of a lunar month. We find different Vartas. i.e. Visnue , Narayan, Madhava, Govinda, Dvajaropana,Haripanchaka ect. In Narada Puran1.Vedic Karma Kanda is followed by in the Sastriya Vratas.  Where both Karma Kanda and loukikata are followed. In kuimari Vrata which is a part of Nari Vrata. Only loukikata or convention is accepted From the Albeurni’s report we find the reference of different fasts and festivals in his time. The Hindus follow different Vratas through the year and in every Vrata donations, feasts, dances and music programmes are arranged. From different mythologies and literary works, we find the description of facts and festivals of Gajapati period of Orissa.

EKADASI VRATA:

It is a vrata  observed on Ekadasi or 11^th day of luner month in honour of lord Vishnu. The greatness of the Vrata is mentioned in the purans. According to Narad Purans , One’s sin committed in ten thousand birth is waived, if he observed this Vrata. As per smruti a man gets into RouravaNarka(hell) who does not observe this Vrata.  This vrata was observed widely in Orissa

PUSYAVISEKA:

According to Pandita Sarvasva, fasting is to be observed on Pausa Purnnami i.e. the full moon day of luner month pausa. It is describe in the Skanda Purana, that PusyaSnana or a special birth in the month of Pausa is held, If Pusya Nakshatra is added on the full moon day Skanda Purana and as such, in the opinion of Puranakaras, that Magha Saptami or the seventh day of month Maghais a sacred day.  In Orissa Magha Saptami is widely observed. In the Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa, MaghaSaptami Vrata is widely highlighted. To get a dip in the Chandrabhaga, worship the Sun god Biranchi Narayana and donation to Brahmins and poor people is followed by Punya. In different Parvas of his Mahabharata, the poet has illustrated different stories on holy month of Magha. He has in fused morality in his stories.

SIVA RATRI :

In the history of Savisim, the tenth and eleventh century constituted a seminal age in Orissa. The Somavasmi rules of the period took various steps for the rise and spread of Saivism. They constructed saivit temples granted villages to priests, Brahmins and Saiva ascetics, and saivism flourished in leaps and bounds during the period. Although, during Gangas and Gajapatis Vaishnavism made greater strides, yet, they did not hesitate to patronize saivism. Many Siva temple s are constructed and Siva lingas were installed in their dominion.

In Orissa, saivism become so popular during the Gajapati period that many festivals were in celebration in honour of Lord Siva. Wherever Siva temple exit , especially at the famous Saivite centers i.e. Bhubaneswar for Lord Lingaraja, Puri for Lord Lokanatha, Kapilasa for Lord Chandrasekhara etc.,Siva ratri or Siva Chaturdasihas been in celebration  as the most important 

festivals in the annual cycle of rituals. It falls on fourteenth day of dark fortnight in the luner month of Phalguna. On this day the devotees take fasting till fortnight when the sacred lamp (Mahadipa) is taken to the temple spire of the month. It is the usual practice of the kings to take birth, observe the Vrata and to take delicious food. The kings are held in high esteem on the as is enumerated in the Ekamra Purana. In Gadadhara Paddhati, donation to Brahmins, putting of new cloths and taking of delicious foods are the usual practice on the day.

Descriptions of Pusyaviseka is found mention in the Dandi Ramayana by Balaram Dasa and Mahabharata by Jagannatha Dasa. Pusyaviseka celebration was widely observed by Lord Krushna, Akrura, Arjuna and Subhadra were invited to the ceremony and it was witnessed by different gods on the heaven.

KAMAKSHI VRATA :

Kamakshi vrata which is also known as Krushna-Gauri Osha was observed during Gajapati period. God Vishnu is received as the son who observed this vrata. This is very expensive and austerity is maintained in this Vrata. It is observed on the thirteenth day of dark fortnight of Magha when Pusya Nakshatra falls on Thursday. We find description of Gouri Vrata in both the Sarala Mahabharata and Mahabharata by Jagannath Dasa.

MAGHA SAPTAMI :

According to Smruti , the devotee gets the fruit of his cherished ambition who observes; the seventh day of fullmoon fortnight of luner month Magha by sacred bath and fasting. It is mentioned in the Bhrhma purana, that wealth knowledge and son are achieved if Sun god is worshipped after a bath in the Ocean

MANGALABARA OSHA:

This Osha is observed on Mangalabar. or Tuesday of bright half of luner month Chaitra. It is a Vrata in which goddess Gouri or Mangala is being worshipped. In the myth of untouchable women belonging to the scavenger community known as Chiti, Used to offer wine, meat and eggs to Mangala. She once saw the in-auspicious face of the issueless king of the land and express her fear in disgust .The king got all her sons crushed under a husking levelr. But due to the grace of Mangala, they were restored to life. The king learnt a lesson and his queen worshiped Mangala and blessed with sons. Hence, it is called as “Chaiti Mangalabara Osha". It is performed for fulfillment of certain desires. Lord Krushna had advised Arjuna while wandering in the to worship Goddess Bhavani or Mangala. This Osha was observed in the Orissan society of Gajapati Period.