Step into any Odia home today, and the sweet, fragrant aroma of Chitau Pitha is likely to envelop you. It’s Chitalagi Amavasya, a day cherished by Odias with great fervour, and this traditional coconut pancake is at the heart of the celebrations.
In Odisha, festivity and pithas are inseparable, and these rice cakes are an integral part of Odia cuisine, enjoyed on special occasions.
Chitau Pitha holds a special place in the hearts of Odias, particularly on Chitalagi Amavasya. It won’t be wrong to say that the celebration of Chitalagi Amavasya is incomplete without the traditional Chitau Pitha. This delicious rice cake is religiously offered to Lord Jagannath and his siblings at Srimandir, a tradition that underscores the deep connection between food, faith, and culture in Odisha.
Beyond the temple walls, every Odia household comes alive with the spirit of Chitalagi Amavasya. This day is also celebrated as an agrarian festival. As families gather to prepare and share these sweet treats, the spirit of the festival comes alive, filling homes with warmth, love, and the sweet scent of tradition.
Ommcom News delves into the heart of Odisha’s spiritual calendar to explore the significance of Chitalagi Amavasya.
Legend
According to historical accounts, during the invasion of Kalapahada, the Chaturdhamurti of Jagannath temple were hidden in Subarnapur for safekeeping. Later, under the guidance of Adi Shankaracharya, King Jajati Keshari brought the deities back and installed them in the Srimandir, where they were consecrated on the Ratna Bedi with a grand Patta Abhishek ceremony. It was during this ceremony that the golden adornments studded with precious stones were offered to the deities.
From that day forward, this day came to be known as Chitalagi Amavasya, observed in the month of Shravan. The tradition has been passed down through generations, and to this day, the Chitalagi Amavasya is celebrated with great fervour in Odisha.
Significance of Chitalagi Amabasya
Chitalagi Amavasya, also known as Chitau Amavasya, holds special significance in the Odia calendar. Observed on the new moon day of the Sravana month, this day is particularly important at the Jagannath Temple, where Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are worshipped with great devotion.
Going by tradition, a special ritual is performed at the Srimandir, where the Trinity – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra – are adorned with a magnificent ornament called Chita on their foreheads. Unlike traditional Chitas made from sandalwood, musk, and bezoar, the Chitas worn by the deities are crafted from precious gemstones and gold. Each deity is uniquely adorned: Lord Jagannath with a dazzling ‘Heera Chita’ (diamond), Lord Balabhadra with a majestic ‘Neela Chita’ (blue sapphire), and Devi Subhadra with a radiant ‘Manikya Chita’ (ruby).
The sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are resplendent in their majestic Chitas throughout the year, each adorned with precious gemstones. However, this splendour is briefly interrupted on the day of Snana Purnima, when the Chitas are ceremoniously removed. During the Rath Yatra, the deities don simpler Chitas made from Sal. But after a period of abstinence from their usual splendour, the trinity is once again adorned with their magnificent Chitas on Chitalagi Amavasya. On this auspicious day, the gold and stone-set Chitas that were removed during Snana Yatra are restored to their rightful place on the deities’ foreheads, restoring their divine radiance and splendour.
Rashmi Rekha Das
