We celebrate almost all the festivals together in the village.
Makar Sankranti :
It is celebrated on the occasion of uttarayan (northward journey) of the Sun-god. A special semi-liquid preparation called Makara Chaula is offered to the god as prasad and distributed among one and all.
Sri Panchami :
This day students seek the blessings of Devi Saraswati - the goddess of arts and learning. Puja is performed before the image of the goddess and students fast till they make a floral offering(pushpanjali) to her around mid-day.
Maha Shiva Ratri :
It is the day of Lord Shiva's appearance in the universe. To celebrate the occasion devotees of Lord Shiva perform pujas in temples during the day. There is a custom of remaining awake throughout the night by chanting or listening to hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.
Dola Purnima :
This is the concluding day of six-day long worship of Radha and Krishna, which starts on Phagu Dasami. It is celebrated on the full moon day in the Odia month of Falguna. The colour festival of holi is celebrated usually on the day following Dola Purnima.
Rama Navami :
As in the rest of India, Rama Navami is also celebrated throughout Odisha as the birth day of Lord Rama. It is also the celebration of his wedding with goddess Sita. Pujas are offered by visiting the temples of Lord Rama.
Akshaya Trutiya :
It is the day when farmers auspiciously begin sowing seeds of paddy in their fields. This is also known as 'muthi anukula’. The process of construction of the grand chariot of Lord Jagannath for the occasion of Rath Yatra also begins this day by following the prescribed rituals.
Maha Vishuba Sankranti :
It is also known as Mesha Sankranti. It is on this day that Sun enters the sign Libra. The Oriya community celebrates New year on the occasion. A sweet concoction known as pana is prepared and distributed among one and all. (Pana is prepared by mixing different types of fruits, water, milk, pulp of bela, curd and sugar). This day is also marked by literary get-togethers.
Raja :
During this three-day period of Raja, women get their right to rest and merri-making. They are not supposed to work during these days. Swings are tied under branches of large trees so that women and girls could enjoy swinging while the husbands and other male-members in the family take care of cooking. It is customary to relish Poda Pitha (see Oriya Foods page for recipe) during the festival. Women are strictly forbidden to perform puja of any kind either at home or in the temples during this period of three days.
Ratha Yatra:
Lord Jagannath along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra comes out of the precincts of his temple in Puri for a visit to his aunt’s place at Gundicha Mandir which is about five kms away. The three deities undertake their journey in three huge chariots pulled by thousands of devotees. It is said that it is an occasion for Lord Jagannath to give an opportunity of his darshan to the people whose entry is forbidden into his temple. (Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple). Though this festival had its beginning in Puri, now-a-days it is also being observed through out the world, where ever there are temples of Lord Jagannath.
Gamha Purnima :
The practice of tying rakhis on the wrists of brothers this day is only a recent phenomenon in Odia community as imitated from the north Indian communities. Originally in Odisha this day marks the worship of Lord Balabhadra. Bullocks and cows are also worshipped by smearing their heads with sindur.
Ganesh Chaturthi :
Ganesh Chaturhi is observed by the Odia community for invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha as is the custom among other communities in India. Students observe fasting in the day till they make a floral offering (pushpanjali) before the image of Lord Ganesha seeking his blessings for acquiring wisdom.
Dussehra :
As in other states in India, Dussehra also marks the end of four-day long Durga puja celebrations in Odisha. On this day the valedictory puja of Devi Durga is done, and the earthen image the goddess is immersed in river. In Odisha this day at around mid-day all types vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, bicycles and bullock-carts are worshipped by invoking the presence of Devi Durga into them. In the evening, women perform a special puja called Somanath Brata. It is a form of worshipping lord Shiva. A treatise narrating the tale is Soma Nath is read out. (Somanath Brata Katha in Odia may be downloaded by clicking on the link available at the bottom of this page). The offerings before the god include Manda Pitha ( a delicacy made of wheat flour with stuffing of scrubbed coconut, sugar and spices), ten types of fruits and ten types of flowers. After completion of the Puja in the evening women break their day-long fast.
Kumara Purnima :
It is particularly a festival of kumaris . However it has now evolved into being a festival of kumars as well. The young ones enjoy this festival wearing new dresses. In the evening they worship the full moon in the sky. In the southern parts of Odisha the young and old alike celebrate this festival.
Dipavali :
Also known in the northern states of India as Diwali, this festival is mainly celebrated as a remembrance of pitru Purusha, or ancestors. Lighted sticks or diyas are shown towards the sky in the evening seeking the blessings of ancesters and praying for their well-being. Bursting of fire-crackers and decorating houses with candles and diyas this day is not a custom original to Odisha. How ever this ritual has now been widely adapted from the north Indian states.
Panchuka :
It is a practice among pious Odias to give up non-vegetarian food such as fish, meat and egg during the entire month of Kartik. How ever those who are not in a position to abstain from non-vegetarian foods during the entire month, have the option to give it up for five days beginning from Panchuka. There is a popular proverb in Oriya which says that even the fish-hunting bird of crane does not touch fish during these five days.
Kartik Purnima :
It is an occasion to commemorate the glorious prosperity of Odisha in the olden days when the sadhabas (maritime traders) practised maritime trade in far off countries. They were traditionally sailing off into the sea every year on the day of Kartik Purnima while their spouses used to see them off by conducting aarti. As a token remembrance of the past glory, this day Oriya women sail off small toy-like boats in the rivers and perform puja early in the morning.
Prathamastami :
It is an occasion to perform puja for the well-being of the first child in the family. A delicacy called Haladi Patra Enduri Pitha (idlis filled with sweet stuffing and wrapped in green leaves of turmeric plant before being steamed) is the specialty of the day.
Manabasa Gurubar :
On every Thursday in the Oriya month of Margasir goddess Lakshmi is worshiped with utmost devotion by Oriya women. They wake up very early in the morning and clean the house with broom-sticks, for it is elieved that goddess Lakshmi would never visit the house if the house remains dirty and untidy. The entrance as well as the door step of the house is decorated with artistic Odishan alpana (called chita or jhoti). A pot made of bamboo canes used in the olden days for measuring paddy (known as mana) is filled upto the brink with freshly harvested paddy. It is believed that goddess Lakshmi visits every house-hold during the puja. It is a custom to recite the Lakshmi Purana, written by ancient poet Balaram Das, while performing the puja.
|