March 24, 2025, and while the rest of India is washing off Holi colors and nursing thandai hangovers, Harirajpur village in Odisha’s Khordha district is just getting started. Today, the famous Panchu Dola Melana kicked off, turning this quiet spot 15 kilometers from Bhubaneswar into a divine playground. Think of it as Holi 2.0—less about humans throwing powder and more about gods having their own colorful bash. And trust me, when the deities party, they don’t mess around.
The star of the show is Paschimasambhu Somnath Dev, Harirajpur’s big-shot deity who’s basically the village VIP. Legend has it he sends out cosmic invites to gods from 80 nearby villages, saying, “Hey, let’s play Holi!” And they show up—five major Shiva temples included—carried in fancy palanquins like rockstars on tour. That’s why they call it Panchu Dola Melana: “Panchu” means five, and these Shiva squads are the headliners. The whole thing started way back in 1637, thanks to two locals, Babaji Gobardhan Das and Nitei Sahu, who thought, “Why let humans have all the fun?” Nearly 400 years later, it’s still a hit.
Picture this: the sun dips low, and a massive procession rolls into Harirajpur’s 80-acre melana ground. Drummers bang away, dancers twirl in traditional Ghoda Nacha moves, and firecrackers pop like it’s Diwali’s rowdy cousin. The gods, perched in their decorated rides, get smeared with abir—bright powders in every shade—while devotees chant and cheer. It’s not just a show; it’s a four-day holy hangout where the deities catch up, swap colors, and let loose. And when night falls? Fireworks steal the spotlight, because apparently, offerings of sweets weren’t cool enough for these divine VIPs.
This isn’t some new-age festival cooked up for Instagram likes—oh no, it’s the real deal, steeped in history and devotion. The NMC might not be bulldozing anything here, but the energy’s just as explosive. Paschimasambhu Somnath Dev kicks things off by stepping out of his temple in a grand parade, and the other gods follow like it’s a celestial roll call. For the next few days, Harirajpur turns into a colorful chaos zone—think Holi, but with a godly guest list and zero water balloons.
So, while the rest of us are scrubbing red stains off our shirts, Harirajpur’s throwing a bash that’s half worship, half wild party. It’s Odisha’s best-kept secret—or it was, until the crowds and crackers made it impossible to ignore. Want to see gods play Holi like it’s 1637? Harirajpur’s where it’s at. Just don’t expect an invite—you’re not on Somnath Dev’s VIP list.
