Prathamastami is a popular festival which highlights the distinctive cultural and culinary practices of the people of the state…
Post News Network
Prathamastami was observed with pomp and devotion across the state Monday. The eldest sibling of a family is the centre of attraction of this popular festival. Celebrated on the eighth day of the month of Margasira, Prathamastami is fervently celebrated by siblings who pay respect to the eldest who, it is believed, ultimately takes up the responsibility of the family after her parents. The celebrations are a means of paying homage to her.
Not only the rituals, but many of the special pancake, ‘enduri ptiha’, is also a distinguishing characteristic of the celebrations. Orissa POST speaks with women about the festival and its special fervour.
“We wait for the festival the entire year. I can buy a number of dresses with the money I earn, but I love to wait for the new dress that my parents gift me on the occasion. Again, typical Oriya recipes have many unique elements which are not available in other cuisines. I may be mistaken, but my love for my motherland makes the food tastier for me. I am talking about the ‘enduri pitha’ which is specially made during prathamastami. The pancake contains the lovely essence of turmeric and is healthy,” said Alisha, a Bangalore-based IT professional, who is visiting Cuttack, her native place, on the sacred occasion.
Deepa, a Plus II student who lives in Dhenkanal, is the eldest of the siblings in her family. Dwelling on the festival she says: “I love the way the eldest and the second child of a family are pampered with new dresses and traditional foods that we have a craving for. The rituals to adorn the eldest sibling are immensely enjoyable. I find scientific reasons behind the celebrations. According to psychologists, the first-borns are the mostly healthy, obedient and tradition-bound. Therefore, the family tradition is preserved and transmitted through them.”
“I believe prathamastami is an agrarian tradition which accords a lot of importance to the eldest child of a family. However, it can also produce narcissistic elders and curb healthy individualism which is necessary for creative endeavours. The positive aspects of the festival are outdated in this time and age. The only attraction for me is the pancakes wrapped in turmeric leaves,” said Supriya Prasant, a litterateur.
“The rituals of prathamastami are very important,” says Snehangini, a senior citizen who lives in Berhampur. “The rituals involve ‘aarti’ of the eldest child called ‘poduan’ and also the second child which are called ‘duan’. Later, the siblings take the blessings of their elders. It is a festival where Sasthi Devi, the goddess who takes care of kids, is worshipped. Besides, Lord Varuna is worshipped on the ‘kalash’ and we also worship Lords Balabhadra and Jagannath. Delicacies like ‘haldi patra pitha’ and ‘kheer’, made of rice and a traditional mixed vegetable curry, are offered to the deities and later enjoyed by all members of a family.” she added.
