Sanatan Dharma

Agni Utsav, also known as the Festival of Fire, holds a significant place in the cultural tapestry of Odisha. This vibrant festival is celebrated with fervor and joy throughout the state, marking the triumph of good over evil and the onset of spring. The story behind Agni Utsav is rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly the legend of Lord Shiva's divine intervention to save the world from destruction. According to tradition, a demon named Tarakasura had gained immense power through rigorous penance and began wreaking havoc on the earth. His tyranny and atrocities threatened to engulf the world in darkness and chaos. In response to the prayers of the distressed gods and goddesses, Lord Shiva agreed to intervene and vanquish the demon. However, Tarakasura had obtained a boon that made him invincible to anyone except the son of Shiva. In order to fulfill this condition, Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati conceived a son, Kartikeya, who would ultimately bring an end to Tarakasura's