The Danda Yatra festival starts on April 1 and will last for 13 days. This festival is very popular in Orissa's Ganjam district and the neighbouring areas. The village committees have even pasted pamphlets, especially in the industrial belts of the city warning of heavy fines in the event of non-participation in the festival.

Secretary of the Parpraniya Vikas Mandal in Surat Suath Sahu said, "Danda Yatra is an ancient and traditional form of worship. The practice is believed to have originated in the Galleri and Baibelli villages in the state's Ganjam district. The ritual continues for 13 to 21 days. The district cultural festival is organised every year in different villages of the Ganjam. Most migrants from Orissa, employed in these sectors belong to these districts. They will definitely head home, more so, as the committee that conducts these festivities has issued this decree." He said the rule was formulated to ensure higher participation at the festivities this time.

Mithu Pradhan, a textile worker from Galleri village in Ganjam, who has been staying in Surat for ten years, said, "This festival is very important for us. I have to attend the festival, as I am a committee member in my village. The recent decision to impose fines was taken due to the low turnout of people from Surat." Mithu said he paid a fine of Rs 2000 after failing to attend the function last year.

Sahu said, this time pamphlets have been put up across the city, and no one can claim ignorance about the move. "We have decided to take leave and attend the function this year," he said.

However, factory owners are not too happy with these plans. Devesh Patel, a loom factory owner and president of the Ved Road Industrial Association said, "There are sixty labourers working in my factory. I will face a major staff crunch. There are 3,000 textile factories situated in our Association area. Members of our association have complained about these pamphlets and the mass leaves taken by their employees to attend the festival. At present, the textile industry is facing a recession. We have tried to convince the workers, but have not succeeded so far."