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Kandhei Jatra: The Centuries-Old Toy & Puppet Festival of Berhampur

Kandhei Jatra (literally translating to “Toy Festival”) is a unique, historic folk fair celebrated annually in Berhampur (Brahmapur), the silk city of southern Odisha. Held in the old city area of Khaspa Street, this three-to-three-day festival is dedicated to the traditional craft of toy-making, wooden puppetry, terracotta art, and paper-mâché sculptures.

Falling around the Ashadha Purnima (full moon of June/July), Kandhei Jatra stands out among Odisha’s cultural landscape because it is driven primarily by artisan guilds rather than temple rituals, preserving the state’s heritage of indigenous puppetry and wooden toy craftsmanship.

Historical Origin & Cultural Significance

The festival traces its history back over three centuries to the era of the local Mohuri Kingdom.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        HISTORICAL PILLARS OF KANDHEI JATRA             │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ • Royal Patronage     ──► Initiated by the Mohuri King to encourage    │
│                           indigenous artisans and puppet makers        │
│ • Devotional Link     ──► Crafting clay & wooden toys for Lord         │
│                           Jagannath's Ratha Yatra season               │
│ • Sakhi Kandhei Art   ──► Preserving traditional string & glove        │
│                           puppetry (*Sakhi Kandhei Nata*)              │
│ • Community Heritage  ──► Passing centuries-old toy-making skills     │
│ •                       down through hereditary artisan families       │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
  1. The Royal Decree: Legend holds that the King of Mohuri established the fair to give local artisans an exclusive platform to sell handcrafted wooden, clay, and cloth toys. To encourage participation, royalty exempted toy sellers from taxes during the festival days.
  2. The Puppet Theater (Sakhi Kandhei): Beyond physical toys, Kandhei Jatra is historically synonymous with Sakhi Kandhei Nata—Odisha’s traditional string puppetry. Puppet troupes from across southern Odisha gather to re-enact mythological plays from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the legends of Radha-Krishna.

Key Highlights & Festival Structure

During the festival nights, Khaspa Street transforms into a vibrant, illuminated open-air gallery packed with stalls and street performances.
1.Artisan Guild Assembly & Setup:Day 1 Opening.

Traditional puppet makers and toy artisans setup temporary wooden stalls along Khaspa Street. Artisans unveil handcrafted toys made from wood, terracotta, brass, paper-mâché, and coir.
2.Sakhi Kandhei Puppetry Performances:Nighttime Displays.

As evening falls, open-air puppet theaters set up miniature stages. Puppeteers manipulate wooden puppets tied with strings (Sakhi Kandhei) accompanied by live Mardala drums, flutes, and Odissi folk songs.
3.Exhibition of Traditional Odia Toys:Day 2 & 3 Shopping.

Families gather to purchase traditional Odia toys—such as wooden horses (Katha Ghora), terracotta elephants, painted clay birds, paper-mâché masks, and miniature wooden kitchen sets (Kandhei Khela) for children.
4.Artisan Recognition & Community Feast:Culmination.

Master artisans are recognized by local craft guilds and cultural organizations, ensuring the preservation of rare toy-making techniques for the next generation.

Traditional Craft Varieties at Kandhei Jatra

The fair features a rich variety of indigenous toys, each using distinct eco-friendly materials:
Toy Category Material & Technique Cultural Role
Katha Kandhei Carved light wood (Gambhari), painted with bright natural colors and lacquer. Classic jointed wooden dolls and animal figures used for storytelling.
Katha Ghora Hollow wooden horses decorated with vibrant fabrics and paints. Key prop used in Ghora Nacha (Horse Dance) folk performances.
Mati Kandhei Terracotta clay baked and hand-painted with traditional motifs. Traditional piggy banks, bird whistles, and miniature pots.
Kaghaza Kandhei Paper-mâché molded using waste paper, clay, and natural gum. Lightweight masks, animal heads, and decorative wall hangings.

Quick Summary for Culture Enthusiasts

  • When: Full Moon day (Purnima) of Ashadha month (June / July).
  • Location: Khaspa Street, Berhampur (Ganjam District, Odisha).
  • Core Symbol: Handcrafted wooden string puppets (Sakhi Kandhei) and painted terracotta toys.
  • Primary Objective: Preserving centuries-old folk puppetry, supporting artisan guilds, and promoting traditional toy-making art.