Sulia Jatra kicks start today at Khairguda of Balangir district. Thousands of animals and birds are sacrificed during this festival which takes place on the second Tuesday of the month of Pausha.
The Jatra (festival) is named after the God Sulia of tribal communities. In this festival the Kandha tribe believes that animal sacrifices will bring success and prosperity to the community by offering blood to the Sulia God. It is also reported that eight sub castes of the Kandha worship Sulia as their presiding deity in this 500-year-old tradition.