Kumar Purnima is a festival celebrated by young girls in Odisha on the full moon day of the month of Ashwin. It is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, who is considered as the most handsome and eligible god. The girls perform various rituals and games to seek a good-looking and ideal husband like him. Here are some of the main features of this festival:
Morning ritual, ‘Anjula Teka’: The girls wake up before sunrise, bathe and get dressed to perform ‘Anjula Teka’ ritual. They offer palmfuls of ‘khae’ (puffed rice) with ‘janhi’ (striped gourd), cucumber, banana, coconut, betel nut, etc. to the sun god as a gesture of gratitude and reverence. They also light a lamp and pray for a suitable groom. They keep fasting for the whole day until the moonrise.
Evening ritual, ‘Chanda Puja’: The girls prepare a delicacy called ‘Chanda chakata’ from khaee, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, ghee, honey and milk. They shape it into a half-moon and offer it to the moon god along with flowers and incense1. They also sing songs like ‘Kumara Punei Janha Lo’ (O handsome boy, look at the moon) and play games like ‘Puchi Khela’ (a squatting game) in the moonlight.
Kumar Utsav: Kumar Utsav is celebrated across Odisha to commemorate Kumar Purnima. Dance and music performances are organised across the state. Odissi recitals, dance performances on popular folk songs (“Kuanra Punei Janha Lo”) and Dasavatara (ten incarnations of Vishnu), Sambalpuri ‘Dalkhai’ dance and tales of this Odia festival are depicted on stage
The festival is celebrated in different parts of Odisha with some variations in the customs and traditions. Here are some of the ways to celebrate Kumar Purnima in different parts of Odisha:
In Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, Kumar Purnima is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. The girls dress up in new clothes and jewellery and offer ‘Anjuli’ to the sun god in the morning and to the moon god in the evening with ‘Chanda chakata’, a delicacy made of puffed rice, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, etc. They also play games like ‘Puchi khela’, a squatting game, and ‘Bohu-Bohuka’, a game of hiding and seeking, in the moonlight. They also participate in cultural programs like dance and music performances organised by various organisations and clubs.
In Cuttack, the silver city of Odisha, Kumar Purnima is celebrated with a lot of pomp and show. The girls adorn themselves with silver ornaments and offer ‘Anjuli’ to the sun god and the moon god with ‘Chanda chakata’. They also play games like ‘Puchi khela’, ‘Bisa-Amruta’, a game of guessing fruits, and ‘Phula Baula Beni’, a game of flower garlands, in the moonlight. They also enjoy watching fireworks and lighting lamps on the banks of river Mahanadi.
In Sambalpur, the western part of Odisha, Kumar Purnima is celebrated with a lot of fervour and devotion. The girls wear traditional Sambalpuri sarees and offer ‘Anjuli’ to the sun god and the moon god with ‘Chanda chakata’. They also play games like ‘Puchi khela’, ‘Dalkhai’, a folk dance, and ‘Kuanra Punei Janha Lo’, a folk song, in the moonlight. They also worship goddess Laxmi, who is believed to be born on this day, and seek her blessings for wealth and prosperity
In Berhampur, a city in the southern part of Odisha, Kumar Purnima is celebrated with a lot of fun and excitement. The girls wear new clothes and jewellery and offer ‘Anjuli’ to the sun god in the morning and to the moon god in the evening with ‘Chanda chakata’, a delicacy made of puffed rice, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, etc. They also play games like ‘Puchi khela’, a squatting game, ‘Bisa-Amruta’, a game of guessing fruits, and ‘Phula Baula Beni’, a game of flower garlands, in the moonlight. They also enjoy watching fireworks and lighting lamps on the streets
Kumar Purima is also a day to celebrate youth and beauty. Dance and music performances are organised across the city by various cultural groups and organisations. Odissi recitals, folk songs and dances, and stories of this Odia festival are depicted on stage
