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

Monday 26 October 2015

Pattachitra art of Odisha


Hi Friends,
                  This blog speaks about the process of Pattachitra preparation.
To know about what Pattachitra is, please refer "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattachitra".

How palm-leaf Pattachitra is prepared?
1) The palm leaves are are cut into proper size.
2) The leaves are then stitched so that it will form a big sheet.
3) Then the artist draws the art on the sheet with the help of "Lekhani"(The pen made of iron) so that 

    it leaves the mark on the palm leaf. Then they overwrite with pencil.
   Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK9XDJx_270". 
4) Black color is put on the whole plam-leaf  sheet and then cleaned so that the marks on the palm
    leaf absorb the color and the art is displayed clearly.
    This black color is prepared by burning lamp and mixing the carbon generated with oil.
    Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brGDfywIE4".

How cloth Pattachitra is prepared?
1) Tamarind seeds are dried in sunlight.
2) Then it is crushed and put in water.
3) It is grinded and a paste is prepared from it.
4) The cloth is tore into two pieces.
5) The paste is applied on one cloth.
6) Then the other piece of cloth is pasted over it.
Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVI8OJOX2w".
7) It is the dried in sunlight.
8) "KhaDi PaThara"(Lime stone) is crushed and grinded an a coating is applied over the cloth.
9) Then it is again dried in sunlight and cut into pieces of required size.
10) Then the border margin is drawn on the cloth. The painters do not use scale. They do it manually.
11) The border is then painted black. This "border painting" is locally called as "TippaNa".
      Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIr6xcJOx14".
12) After the border is prepared, different designs are made on it.
13) Then the sketch of the main art is prepared in white color 1st.
14) After the sketch is done, then it is filled with different colors.
     Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcntanolZas".

The colors used in Pattachitra are natural colors.
Odisha Pattachitra is not only prepared on palm leaf or cloth, but also on the wood carvings.
Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk6fWW-up9E".

Some artists also draw the Pattachitra on dry coconut covers.
Please refer "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Am-kCsN-TY".


Please visit "Raghurajpur" in Puri district of Odisha state (India) to see how the Pattachitra art is running through ages by virtue of the cultural heritage of Odisha.

Google Map:



Cheers

Ashish

Saturday 17 October 2015

Districts and Food of Odisha

This blog contains the names of the 30 districts of Odisha state in India.
And also it has some of the specific food items of the districts.


Odia section of this blog is moved to:
Wordpress (Click here)

Please find the details in English as below:
Dists of Odisha — Special Food — Reference Videos
Anugul: Baaunsa poda chicken, Patra poda chicken
Bargarh: Chaaul Bara
Balasore: Khira Gaja, Remuna Rabidi
Balangir: Chaaul Bara, GuDa Bara, Pakhala (Rajmahal hotel), Bhaaji Saga, Karadi, Macha Chatani, Baaunsa poda Mansa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-xqnxFACtk
Boudh: Chakaa Pitha, Chaaul Bara
Cuttack: Salepur Rasagola, Dahibara AalooDum, Tangi Chena Kakara
Deogarh: Chaat, KaraDi saga 
Dhenkanal: Biri Bara, Govindpur Rasagola & Ledkini, Dahi Guda Bhata, Kakera, Guda Manda, Leuta ChakuLi, Mutton Biriyani (Meghamala Hotel), Kamakhyanagar Laau Poda Pitha, Atkali, Chaupati Muaan, Mansa Mahura https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crAxqZQ5ReA
Gajapati: Chakuli Pithaa (Dosa), Charu Pani
Ganjam: Dhanu Muan, Berhampur pampada, badi, achara & Masala Upama, Chilika Chingudi, Lassi, Chicken Pakoda and Milk-Egg Pooding(Girijaa Restaurant Berhampur), Fast food (Babulal Fastfood), Calcutta roll(Berhampur) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvdutCg24yY
Jagatsinghpur: Enduri Pitha (Somanatha Temple), Paradip Sukhuaa, Bara Aaloodum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig7KK4rxJx8
Jajpur: Chandikhol Peda, DaLi Gaja 
Jharsuguda: Dahi Jalibi, Peda, Rajstani food(Kalakand), Herbal chicken(Hotel Orchad), Gujarati food(Teman Dhokla), Chinese food(Momo) Hotel Yantra, Nepali food(Seluti, Aloodum, Aachar, Gundrukaau Bhatara, Selo roti, Jhelenga, Sefali) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2LB5eRbRbc
Kalahandi: Karadi, Chaaul Bara, Gunduri Mansa Tarakari, Aambil Kandhamal: Sukha jhuri, Karadi, Chaaul Bara, Paatalghantaa
KendraPara: Rasaabali, Manikapatana BasaDahi
Keonjhar: Maalpua, Phula Badi(Khasa Badi), Anandapur Arisa Pitha, Chena Mudki, Nadia Kora, Enduripitha, Patra poda Macha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wfZD8IGYRs
Khordha: Pahala Rasagola, Bhubaneswar Baiya Kora Khai, Pakhala (Rajmahal hotel), Bhubaneswar Lingaraja Lassi, Chakuli Pitha, Manda Pitha 
Koraput: Balsa Pitha, AamaTa saaga
Malkangiri: KaraDi, Saaga, Dahi Maacha, Salab, Kendu Patra Poda Chicken, Tamil Food(Putu, Idiapam, Appam) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnyWlhk1hxo
Mayurbhanj: Baripada Mudhi Mansa 
Nuapada: Khariar Bundi
Nabarangpur: Gunduri Mansa Tarakari
Nayagarh: Chhena Poda, Sunakhala Sukhua
Puri: Jagannatha Temple 56 Bhoga, Dalema with Puri-Upama, Khiraa, Jhaal Mudhi, Nimapada Chena Jhili, Chandanpur Chuda kadamba, Pomfret Macha, Pakhala & Lassi (Hotel Grand Regency), Chinese(Chung Wah Hotel), Chicken Pakoda (Bhajanaa Center, Puri Beach), Crab & Prawn (Mayfair), Prawn Sizzler (Wild Grass Restaurant), Khechudi Alarnath temple Brahmagiri, Macha Besara (Baliharachandi Temple), Chilika Khainga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPefb4wTyEY
Rayagada: AtikaPodi saaga, Chakuli Pithaa, Dosa, Charu Pani
Sambalpur: Gosala Rasagola, Lakhmi Bhoga (Nandapada Chhaka, Sambalpur), HenDuaa (Karadi) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs4q4zPJ6Gg
Subarnapur: Muga Dali, Machaa Puruga, Chhota Chingudi, Masala Bara, Tarabha(Chakaa Pitha), AambiLa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYTCgz88KKQ
Sundargarh: Baaunsa Poda Macha, Chakel Bara, Thethiri Pitha, Bhaajia Pitha, Gajara Haluaa(Prabhat Hotel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATJZ1O9nyLI
 


 Cheers
 Ashish