Bhubaneswar: With just a day left for Rakhi Purnima, the Patara Bisoi servitors, responsible for crafting rakhis for the sibling deities, are working tirelessly to prepare rakhis for the ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at Puri Srimandir.
Although Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, are being worshipped as Daru-Brahma at Srimandir, yet in a unique display of divine human-like bonding, the deities observe Rakhi Purnima.
According to the rituals of the Puri Srimandir, Devi Subhadra ties rakhis on the wrists of her brothers, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra, showcasing the sacred bond between siblings. On Rakhi Purnima, a special ritual is observed at the Srimandir. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra wear two rakhis and two gua malas each. The Patara Bisoi servitors craft these special rakhis and gua malas using basunga pata (a type of silk thread).
Notably, Basunga Pata is a revered silk thread of immense religious significance, playing a crucial role in the various other temple festivals, including Rakhi Purnima. This sacred thread is expertly crafted into essential items for the deities, including Vijay Doris, Paita, and Rakhis. Made exclusively from mulberry silk cocoons, Basunga Pata is primarily cultivated by tribal silk farmers in Gajapati district’s Mohana and R. Udaygiri blocks. The thread’s distinctive reddish hue is achieved through a traditional dyeing process using a paste derived from kaitha fruits, sourced from the Koraput district.
The servitors prepare around 15 kilos of basunga pat to make these unique rakhis, starting from Chitalagi Amavasya. The gua malas are also specially prepared in different colours such as yellow, red, blue and violet. Each gua mala is made with 54 guas.
According to Santosh Kumar Patra, a Patara Bisoi servitor, the rakhi preparation is in its final stage, and the four rakhis and four gua malas will be handed over to the Bhandar Mekap.
The Srimandir administration provides the basunga pat for the rakhi preparation. While four rakhis are prepared for Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra, smaller rakhis are made for the side deities.
On the morning of Rakhi Purnima, the rakhis and gua malas are taken to the Srimandir in two separate bundles. The servitors feel blessed to have the opportunity to prepare rakhis for the deities.
