Tuesday 27 October 2015

God Kartika -> Kumara Purnima -> Kartika Purnima - Odisha

Hi Friends,
This blog speaks about the festivals related to Lord Kartika(Kartik/Karthik) in Odisha:

Kartika/Kumara is known as the most handsome among the Gods and the warrior God. Two festivals in Odisha are linked to his name.
In Odisha, unmarried girls celebrate Kumara Purnima to get a suitable groom(Kumara).
And Kartika Purnima is celebrated for the maritime history of Odisha.

Kumara Purnima:
1) ଲିଆ (Liaa-A food item from Paddy) containing the paddy husk, is put on କୁଲା (Kulaa-Winnowing fan)
2) Then girls offer palmful of the ଲିଆ (Liaa), ଜହ୍ନି  ଫୁଲ (Jahni phula - ridge gourd flower), କାକୁଡି ଫୁଲ (Kaakudi phula - Cucumber flower), ଗୁଆ (Gua- betel nut) to Sun God and it is known as "ଆଞ୍ଜୁଳି ଟେକା (AanjuLi TekA)"
3) A loka geeta is sung by the people:
ଜହ୍ନିଫୁଲ ଠୋ ଠା କାକୁଡିଫୁଲ ଠୋ ଠା, ଗୁଣ୍ତୁଚିମୂଷା କହିଯାଇଛି ଚାଉଳମୁଠେ ରଖିଥା।
4) The games like "Puchi Khela", "Bisa-Amruta Khela" etc are performed during Kumara Purnima
5) In the evening, the girls offer "Chaanda" to Moon God. Chaanda or "Chaanda ChakaTa" is paste made from Liaa, Sugar, Banana, TaalaSaja(Fresh Palm fruit), Coconut etc 
6) A loka geeta is sung by the people:
କୁଆଁର ପୁନେଇ ଜହ୍ନ ଗୋ... ଫୁଲ ବଉଳବେଣୀ, କୁଆଁରୀ ମାନଙ୍କ ଅପୂର୍ବ କାହାଣୀ, ପୁଚି ଖେଳିବାକୁ ମନ ଗୋ... ଫୁଲ ବଉଳବେଣୀ...

Kumara Purnima marks the end of ଆଶ୍ଵିନ ମାସ (Aswina Maasa/Month).
From the next day, କାର୍ତ୍ତିକ ମାସ (Kartika Maasa/Month) starts.
On the last day of Kartika Maasa, there is Kartika Purnima.

Kartika Purnima:
1) The month of Kartika is considered as the most sacred among the 12 months.
2) During this month, people refrain from taking non-veg food. Again... it is individual choice (not forced)
3) In the whole month, "ଝୋଟି (Jhoti), ମୁରୁଜ (Muruja)" paintings are made on the ground in the house 
    premises near " ଚଉରା (Chauraa - The small temple like elevation with a Tulasi plant in it)"
4) The last 5 days are called as "ପଞ୍ଚୁକ (Panchuka)" and the last day is "Kartika Purnima"
5) It is for celebrating the Maritime history of Odisha. Probably in India, the celebration of voyage 
    is only celebrated in Odisha. [Outside India, a similar festival is celebrated in Thailand
    as "Loi Krathong". Please refer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi_Krathong . You can find the 
     similarity between the two words Krathong and Kartika]
     
6) On this day, we perform "Boita BandaaNa" ritual. Boita BandaaNa means "Boat Worship" to remember the our history when the Sadhabas used to travel to Indonesian countries like Java, Sumatra, Maladwipa, Bali etc.
7) The toy boats are made of "KadaLi PATukA"(Plantain trunk) or thermocol
8) Then "Paana"(Betel leaf), Gua(Betel Nut) and "Dipa"(Lamp) is placed over it
9) And the small boat is floated in water with a Loka Gita (Folk Song):
ଆ କା ମା ବୈ, ପାନ ଗୁଆ ଥୋଇ. ପାନ ଗୁଆ ତୋ'ର, ମାସକ ଧରମ ମୋ'ର.
   "Aa Kaa Maa Bai, Paana Gua Thoi, Paana Gua Tora Maasaka Dharama Mora"
   Here "Aa" stands for "Aasadha" month, "Kaa" for "Kartika" month, "Maa" for "Margasira" 
   month, "Bai" for "Baisakha" month when the sea voyages used to happen.
10) On this day in Cuttack, a festival starts, called "BaliJatra (Voyage to Bali Island)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali_Jatra
Check these hashtags #BaliJatra #BoitaBandana #Kalinga in twitter.
Note:
1) Kalidas reffered the king of Kalinga as "Mahodadhipati" (Lord of the sea)
2) A text in Mahayana Buddhism mentions "Kalingaodresu" (Islands in the Kalinga sea)

Beliefs:
We have the belief that Kumara is a bachelor God who holds "ଭାଲୀ (Bhaali)"(The weapon in his hand) and who has "ଦେବସେନା (Debasena - God's army)". So it means that Kartika is also a warrior God like Maa Kaali.
But in Tamilnadu, their 1st God is Karthik(Murugan) and they believe Karthik as married to two wives named as "ୱଲୀ (Vali)" and "ଦେୱୟାନୀ (Devyani)".
Whatever might be the difference in beliefs, one thing is common that Kartika/Murugan is the warrior God who saves people from enemies and helps in the voyage/journey.

Department of Archaeological Survey of India has found 3 images of Kartika(Shanmukha/Shanmukham/Aarumugam - 6 face statue) from Odisha, Karnataka and Haryana. Now think, this concept of Kartika/Kartik/Karthik was allover India in ancient times.
Then why do we celebrate only two times in a year (Kartika Purnima and Kumara Purnima)!!! The reason might be obscure.
Still... despite of ups and downs, Odisha saved its culture through her festivals.

Cheers
Ashish

14 comments:

  1. ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ। Wish you the same.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just desire to say your article is as astounding.
    The clearness in your post is just excellent and i can assume you're
    an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to
    grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
    Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much.
      Actually I am not an expert in this subject. As I am from Odisha, I have watched these celebrations. I asked my family about the details of the festival and I have some friends from Tamilnadu who gave the inputs about God Kartik/Murugan and how the concept is different from Odisha.
      Happy reading.

      Delete
  3. Superb website you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew
    of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article?

    I'd really like to be a part of online community where I can get
    advice from other experienced individuals that
    share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please
    let me know. Many thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.
      I am not sure about any online community based on this subject.
      In twitter, we normally post such details.

      Delete
  4. Hi, for all time i used to check blog posts here early in the morning, because i like to gain knowledge of more and more.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi there, yeah this article is genuinely fastidious and I have
    learned lot of things from it on the topic of blogging.
    thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good way of describing, and fastidious piece of writing to take data regarding my presentation topic,
    which i am going to deliver in academy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot.
      Will be really happy if you present such subject in academy. I have found the links among Odisha, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Haryana based on the festivals for God Kartika/Karthik/Murugan. Hope you find more details in your research.
      Good luck.

      Delete