‘Baramasa Tera Parba’  – This popular Odia saying rightly conveys how deeply the culture of festivals and celebrations is ingrained in the Odia spirit. Among the various fairs and festivals of Odisha, one of the most important festivals is Kumar Purnima or Sharad Purnima which kick starts the grand 11-day celebration of Gajalaxmi Puja in various districts of Odisha. The two occasions are celebrated with much pomp and fervour by Odias across the globe.

Why is Kumar Purnima celebrated?

This autumn festival is celebrated by maidens who pray and perform several traditional rituals aspiring for a perfect life partner and suitable groom like Kumar or Kartikeya (the handsome son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati). Lord Kartikeya was born on this day and he is known as God of War as he is believed to garner supreme knowledge on wars and strategies and is the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom of Gods.

This festival falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashwina, between October-November and marks the end of monsoon. This year, Kumar Purnima celebration will start on 20^th October.

Rituals of Kumar Purnima

Rituals of Kumar Purnima include the worshipping of the Sun and the Moon. The early morning festivity starts with girls getting ready, wearing new garments and making offerings to the Sun God. After a whole day of fasting, special delicacies are prepared for offering to the freshly risen Moon. ‘Chanda Chakata’ is a famous dish prepared by a mixture of khai, ghee, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, sugarcane, cucumber, honey and milk. It is then placed on a kula in the shape of the crescent moon, worshipped and served to everyone after the rituals.

Gajalaxmi Puja Begins

The festival celebrating the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Gajalaxmi Puja begins on the day of Kumar Purnima and is celebrated with high zest in Odisha, especially in the Dhenkanal district. Dating back to 1923, the first Laxmi Puja in Dhenkanal was organised at Kunja Sahu Chowk, which is now called Ganesh Bazaar.

Riveting Celebrations

During the 11 days of Gajalaxmi Puja, the state is adorned with colourful lighting and archways. The dazzling decoration, array of food stalls, markets, soulful music and dance programmes showcases the cultural richness of Odisha and enraptures the masses.

During Kartik Purnima, various cultural shows including Odissi recitals, vibrant dance performances on popular folk songs, Sambalpuri ‘Dalkhai’ dance and tales of the festival are staged. Puchi Khela is one of the legendary games played by girls on Kumar Purnima and Gajalaxmi Puja. It is played in a squatting position where one’s weight is shifted and balanced from one leg to another rapidly. Other traditional games such as ‘Bohu-Bohuka’, ‘Bisa-Amruta’, etc. are also played to celebrate the occasion.

Gajalaxmi Puja comes to an end with with display of fireworks, blowing of conch,beating of drums and reciting devotional songs on the Bisarjan or immersion day.Devotees carry the Goddess Laxmi idols to a river and immerse them,symbolic of her return to the heavenly cosmos.

COVID-19 Restrictions for Safety

The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic has been tough and challenging. It only makes sense to keep our celebrations restricted to prevent any more devastations. Hence, several protocols have been laid down to keep the celebrations safe.

In Kendrapara, for example, the number of people in a pandal has been limited to seven persons only. Social gatherings and public participation have also been curbed. Respecting this decision, let us make efforts to celebrate the festivals following the protocol. This Kartik Purnima and Gajalaxmi Puja, let us pray together for a healthy, wealthy and happy world.

Please give us your valuable feedback on the festival in the comments section below.

We are in the throes of the Durga puja festival. Who doesn’t love this time of the year?  Children or adults, we all look forward to the fun and festivities of Durga Puja and Dusshera season.  

In Odisha, the air is already filled with the aromas of a variety of mouth watering dishes which reflect our unique heritage and culture. Since festivals in Odisha are incomplete without special food preparations, we are sharing today some traditional delicacies cooked and relished during this time of the year.

Macha Jhola

People of Odisha are ardent fish lovers. On the 8th day of the Puja (Maha Ashtami), the famous ‘rohu’ fish along with Khichdi is offered to Goddess Durga as a tradition. The ‘rohu’ fish are first fried and then cooked in a lip-smacking fish curry that’s prepared with a paste of onion, ginger and garlic, tomatoes and coriander leaves, chunks of boiled potatoes and some spices.

There are some other versions of this fish curry like ‘Macha Besara’ or ‘Besara Jhola’ which is a little tangy and spicy for the taste buds. Using a heavenly paste of garlic, mustard and red chillies and ‘ambula’(dried mango), the unique curry is made and savoured with plain rice.

Macha Ghanta or Mudhi Ghanta

Macha Ghanta or Mudhi Ghanta is a prominent traditional delicacy of Odisha which is a must-serve for Goddess Durga on Dussehra. The head of the fish is fried, mashed and cooked with onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, and other spices. It is a hot favourite dish and served with rice and salad. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself licking your fingers while relishing Mudhi Ghanta!

Chinchada

Chinchada is a traditional Odia delicacy. Poi Chinchada is typically cooked from fried fish heads and tail pieces with a leafy vegetable called “Poi”. Generally, Rohu or Bhakura fish is favoured for this dish. Another variant is Bandhakobi Chinchada which is made from cabbage and fried fish with a blend of piquant spices. Both of the dishes are quite popular and add a zingy and spicy flavour to the celebrations of Dussehra.

Aloo Posto

Aloo Posto is an iconic dish that is made by using potatoes, mustard oil in a paste of poppy seeds. The magic of few ingredients yields a delectable taste that one cannot easily forget.

Dahi Pakhala

Dahi Pakhala is the staple lunch for Odias during summer. The cooked rice is soaked in water and sour curd and left overnight. Later, grated mango ginger, cumin, green chillies and curry leaves are sautéed and added to the rice, producing an appealing aroma. This fermented dish is offered to the Goddess as “Sankhudi Bhoga’. Enjoy Dahi Pakhala with fried potatoes, fried fish, badi choora and papad.

Khichdi

Khichdi is a traditional dish prepared during the auspicious Durga Puja. With the main ingredients of moong dal and rice, this wholesome-soothing dish is easily prepared and appeals to everyone owing to its light seasoning and spice. It is often served with curd, papad and even pickles. Khichdi is the most important dish served in pandals for Devi maa’s Bhog.

Malpua

Malpua is also a quintessential sweet dish of Odisha. It mostly comes out as a sweet pancake and is savoured after soaking it in sugary syrup that enhances its taste.

Kakara & Manda

Kakara is a local sweet pan cake (pitha) of Odisha. It is made with semolina, grated coconut, jaggery, black pepper and cardamom. The outer cover is made up of semolina; it can also be made from all-purpose flour (maida). It is deep-fried with coconut stuffing which leads to a crispy outer layer with juicy sweetness inside.

Manda pitha is a sweet steamed dish savoured on festive occasions across Odisha. It is shaped like a modak. The outer layer is made of steamed rice flour and the inner stuffing is of coconut, jaggery, black pepper and cottage cheese and flavoured with cardamom.

With another year of stay-at-home celebrations, this Dussehra, hone your cooking skills and prepare these mouth-watering delightful delicacies for the festive occasion.

Do share in the comment section below, as to what delicacies did you cook to make your Durga Puja and Dusshera celebrations more memorable and yummy.