Fairs and festivals are integral part of the cultural life of the Ho tribe,These are mainly associated with the various stages of agricultural operation in different seasons starting from the sowing to the post-harvest activities. Cultivation is the primary occupation, where the life of Ho tribe is dependent upon crops and monsoons, Kol, Kolha, Ho, Munda, are four tribes who reside in the Districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Jajpur, Sundargarh (Bonai Area), Sambalpur, Dhenkanal district of Odisha State. These four tribes though named differently, are basically one and the same tribe. All these tribes are generally known as "Kolha" in Mayurbhanj and Balasore. In Keonjhar and Jajpur districts they are popularly known as "Munda" Tribe. But in their land records they are recorded as "Kolha". They are also called "Munda" because the rich, wealthy and respectful person in their society or the head of the village is known as "Munda". The other name "Ho" means Man. Their language is also called Ho. In this article the word "Ho" shall denote Kol, Ho, Kolha and Munda tribe.

The Ho are agricultural people. They depend on agriculture for food. Their main crop is paddy. All their seasonal festivals are connected to agricultural cycle. They observe festivals relating to sowing, eating of new crop, harvesting of paddy etc. The seed sowing festival is known as "Herah Parab", the festival for first eating of new crop is known as "Jomnama Parab" and the harvesting festival is called "Mage Parab".

(1)The using of new sal leaves, eating of Mahua (Madkam) flowers, Mango fruit and worshipping the deities in sale or Desauli (sacred grove) by offering Sal flowers, Mohua flower or Mango and other flowers and fruits is known as "Baa Parab"(2) In the month of  June-July "Herah Parab,(3) September-october, "Jamnama Parab", (4)January-February  "Mage Parab" and February-March  Baa Parab" etc are celebrated . In all these festivals, village deities (Desauli Bonga, saale bonga etc) are offered blood of animals (goats and chicken) in the sacred grove. The ancestors who reside in the sacred kitchen also are venerated. In these occasions the Ho people enjoy their lives by taking meat and rice, drinking rice beer (Diyeng) and dancing and singing.

Key words: Ho, Festivals, Parab, Desauli bonga, ancestors, Mageparab, Baa parab, Herah parab, Jamnama parab.