Kumar Purnima : is yet another festival in Odisha besides Raja that celebrates womanhood and community bonding .
What is Kumar Purnima:
Sharad Purnima known as Kumar Purnima or Lakshmi Puja in Odisha is the festival when girls pray for a perfect life partner like Kumar Kartikeya, the most handsome among the Gods.
This is one of the biggest festival for people of Coastal and Southern Odisha (undivided Ganjam and Koraput districts) .
On this day moon and earth are very close to each other, the moon rays have certain healing properties of nourishing the body and the soul.
Why do we celebrate Kumar Purnima:
This festival is celebrated with different rituals in different parts of Odisha. People in southern Odisha, play cards (gambling) with family and friends and worship Goddess Laxmi for prosperity and abundance.
Whereas girls observe fast and worship Moon God for a handsome husband like Kartikeya in Coastal Odisha.
The moon is also synonymous with a handsome husband that the girls are seeking for themselves. We have been told that we should seek for a life partner whose devotion and dedication can be compared to the purity of the moon.
But we must also remember, no one is perfect and moon does have black spots on it. So it is not only about finding a good life partner but accepting him/her as the person is the essence of this Puja.
Janhi Osha, a month long ritual of young girls where Janhi ( Ridge Gourd) is worshipped along with its flowers as it looks very bright like moon and blossoms towards the evening only also ended on this day. The folk song testifies this “Jahniphoolo lo Pujili tote, ke Bara maguchhi debuti Mote”.
It is also believed that, on this full moon night, the goddess Lakshmi descends on the earth. Hence people remains awake throughout the night to welcome her and seek her blessings. Hence they pass the sleepless night by playing Pasa Pali, Ganjapa Playing Cards, cowries (Kaudi) which are an ancient coin to represent wealth.
so It also marks the harvest festival, signifying the end of the rainy season. Hence, it is also called Nabanna (new rice) Purnima. On this day, moon is the closest to our Earth. That is why, it is believed that moonlight has healing effect on this night. Food kept in moonlight on this night, is considered as elixir.
According to legend, the Goddess Lakshmi visits the houses of people to bless them when they worship her at night.
A common factor that ties the celebrations in both parts of Odisha is the offering of white colored food. Deities in temples are usually dressed in white color signifying the brightness of moon. The food is left out in the moonlight and it is believed that it absorbs the healing properties of the light on Sharad Purnima.
It is believed that Goddess Laxmi came along with Chandra (moon), Aeirabat (the elephant), Uccheishraba (the Horse), the Meghas (clouds)- the gods of rain, Parijaat the flower and Amrita-nectar out of the sea when churned by Devatas and Demons.
So when we celebrated Kumar Punima, we equally worship all gods and goddesses (Durga, Annapurna, Laxmi, Narayan and Shiva) for wellbeing of the Universe.
Food being the common factor for both parts of odisha during Kumarpurnima . One of the delicious ‘Bhog’ that is offered during this festival is ‘Chanda Chakata’.
In Ganjam, the womenfolks worship the moon in the night Chandra Puja or Janha Puja with Kakara Pitha prepared out of flour of rice and gur (jaggery),Kanti Pitha etc.
What is Chanda Chakta:
Chanda Chakta ,mashed Popped Paddy called Khai in Odia is mashed with coconut, chenna, milk, banana, sugarcane, sugar/jaggery and offered as Bhog to Moon . Since this Chakta is shaped like Moon and offered on the full moon day , its called Chanda Chakta.
If you notice, all the ingredients of the Prasad are white in colour. This dish is inspired by the colour and shape of the moon .
All the ingredients chosen are very light for stomach and easily digestible as it is consumed after a whole day of fasting.
Ingredients:
- 750gm popped paddy(khai)
- 250 gms Cottage cheese ( Chena)
- 2 medium size ripe Banana, mashed
- 1 cup Coconut , grated
- 1/4 th cup Sugar
- 1 and 1/2 cup Milk
- Sugarcane – 5 to 6 pieces chopped into small pieces
- Any other fruits as per choice(optional)
Method:
- Place all the above ingredient in one bowl and gradually add milk to mash everything together.
- If your Chakta is a little dry you can add more milk to it.
- Serve this Chanda chakata immediately.
NB: You need not worry about the measurement, as Khai will shrink in volume as it becomes wet.
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