KUMAR PURNIMA Kumar Purnima is one of the most popular festivals of unmarried girls in Odisha which falls on the full-moon day in Ashvin (Oct) month. Kumar or Kartikeya, the handsome fighter son of Shiva was born on this day. As young girls always wish for a handsome husband, they propitiate Kumar who was most handsome among the Gods. But, peculiarly enough there is no ritual for the God, instead the Sun (in morning) and the Moon (in evening) are worshiped. In the early morning, the girls wear new garments/sarees, applies mehndi on hands & alta (red colored water) on feet and make special food-offerings to the sun. They observe fasting for the day. In the evening when the moon rises they again make food offerings of a special variety (chanda chakata made of lia) and take it after the rituals are over. It is a festival of rejoicing for the girls. All of them sing Kumar Purnima’s theme song by Kavi Mrutyunjay Behera – “Kuanra Punein Janha Go” and dance. They also play a kind of outdoor game known as Puchi Khela & also indulge in other varieties of country-games incl. Luddupali (Ludo), Tass (Bridge), Kaori (sea shells previously used as money). Newly married daughters are invited to their maternal house alongwith bridegroom & are served delicacies like kakera pitha (cakes). The month long Janhi Osha (Ridge Gourd puja) ends on this day. Kumar Purnima is more famous in southern part of Odisha esp. in Brahmapur town.. In cities like BBSR, ‘Kumarutsav’ is organised on a big scale in which various events are planned. In certain places, even Kumari Marriage is organised in which dummy marriage between two young girls (as bride & groom) are solemnised. GAJALAXMI PUJA Kumar or Sharad Purnima day is also observed as the birthday of Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. Therefore, many people worship the Goddess at their homes and keep themselves awake by playing Pasha (Dice) (especially in parts of southern Odisha) & some men even indulge in gambling during the night. Significantly it suggests that those who wish to acquire wealth should always be vigilant at night. It is for this reason that the owl, a bird that sleeps in the day and comes out only at night is worshipped. Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped by devotees in different pandals and household in and across the state of Odisha, especially in Dhenkanal & Angul.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 11:51:00 +0000
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