Bhubaneswar: The last auspicious five days of the holy Odia month ‘Kartika’ is known as Pachuka which started today. But this year, the Panchuka will be observed for only four days.
According to traditional Odia beliefs, people unable to fast throughout Kartik month observe the Panchuka fast at month’s end, to reap equivalent spiritual benefits. During Panchuka, most Odias adopt a vegetarian diet, abstaining from non-vegetarian food.
During Panchuka, people wake up before sunrise and complete their daily chores. People worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana to mark the auspicious occasion. However, married women venerate Goddess Vrundavati, embodied in the sacred tulsi plant, seeking longevity and well-being for their husbands. Odia women in general then draw rangolis of various patterns in front of a ‘Tulasi chaunra’ or basil plant. The blow of conch shells and ‘hulahulis’ create a different ambience altogether.
People throng to temples and consume habisha. A lot goes into preparing habisha. Certain vegetables like different varieties of gourds, brinjal, a large number of pulses and a few leafy vegetables cannot be part of this meal.
However, Kartika Purnima, the full moon day, marks the culmination of Panchuka. It celebrates Odisha’s maritime past, commemorating Sadhabas’ trade voyages. It honours Odisha’s rich maritime heritage, as locals recreate traditional boat journeys, Boita Bandana, paying tribute to ancient traders.
On Kartika Purnima, Odias traditionally sail handmade boats, crafted from banana trunks or thermocol, in nearby water bodies, singing folk songs like ‘Aa Ka Ma Boi.'”
Panchuka festivities also hold significance in Jagannath temple. Lord Jagannath and His sibling deities adorn five sacred attires, showcasing distinct divine personas daily.
Lord Jagannath wears five majestic attires during Panchuka such as Laxmi Narayan, Bankachuda, Tribikrama, Laxmi Narasimha and Rajarajeshwar.
As per the tradition, five special attires of Lord Jagannath take place in Puri during this period. The first day of Panchuka is known as ‘Bada Ekadashi’ and on this occasion, Lord Jagannath dons Laxmi Narayan attire. After ‘Abakasha Niti’, the Holy Trinity will give darshan to the devotees at Srimandir by wearing ‘Patabastra’, special ornaments and garlands made with attractive flowers.
Going by the tradition, Lord Jagannath and His sibling deities Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra dons ‘Bankachuda besha’ in ‘Dwadashi’ (second day of Panchuka), ‘Tribikrama Besha’ in ‘Trayodashi’ (third day of Panchuka), ‘Laxmi Nursingha Behsa’ in ‘Chaturdashi’ (fourth day of Panchuka) and ‘Rajarajeshwar Besha’ or golden attire in ‘Kartika Purnima’ (last day of Panchuka).
Keeping the huge rush in mind, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements to control the crowd at the 12th-century shrine.
