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With the religious calendar of the Odia people, Manabasa Gurubar holds a lot of importance. The festival mainly consists of worshiping Goddess Laxmi every Thursday of Margasira, the month after the completion of Kartik Purnima.
This festival is celebrated with the belief that Maa Laxmi visits people’s homes and blesses them with wealth, good health, and prosperity. This month, the harvested paddy crops of the Kharif Season are worshipped, and people pray for the wellness of their families. Married women mainly do this worship.
Why is Goddess Laxmi Important in Odia Culture?
Goddess Laxmi is considered as the most important god in Odia Culture. She is considered the goddess of health, wealth, prosperity and well-being. Many Odia people believe that the blessing of Goddess Laxmi offers stability to the house, protects families from financial problems, and creates an environment of peace and proper respect. It is thought that Maa Laxmi creates a spiritual balance in life by offering both material and emotional security to families.
What is the Ancient History Behind the Laxmi Puran?
The Laxmi Puran was written by Balaram Das. This is an ancient Odia Scripture that explains the story behind Manabasa Gurubar. The story explains how Goddess Laxmi fights for equality and tries to remove cast discrimination. This tale also describes how Maa Laxmi visited the house of Shriya Chandaluni, who is an untouchable woman, by breaking social barriers to bless her.
Due to this, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra were shocked by Maa Laxmi’s action and abandoned her to go inside the Shree Mandir of Puri temple. Then, Maa Laxmi continued her journey and proved her power and self-sufficiency. After that, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra realised their mistake and apologised to her. Then, they invited her back and knew the importance of treating all devotees equally.
How Odia Wives Celebrate Manabasa Gurubar?
Prathama Pali, Dwitiya Pali, Trutiya Pali, and Chaaturtha Pali are the names of the four Thursdays in the month of Margashira, respectively. Every home is thought to be visited by Goddess Laxmi on these days. Devoted ladies adore Goddess Laxmi for their families’ prosperity and well-being.
They take a bath, get up early, and dress in brand-new sarees in shades of red and white. They clean their homes since it is thought that Goddess Laxmi visits a clean home. They then use rice paste to create jhoti Chita or rangoli to adorn their homes, essentially the doorsteps. Lotuses and the feet of Goddess Laxmi are the most frequently drawn motifs, though there are other variations.
After that, they set up a low table, known as a khatuli, for puja. They spread a fresh cloth over it and decorate it with rice paste. After that, they covered it with freshly harvested paddy. After that, they fill a bamboo jar called Mana, which was previously used to measure paddy, with paddy grains and set it on top of the khatuli. They revere Mana as a representation of the goddess Laxmi. They present the deity with Manda pitha as prasad.
Why do Women Read Laxmi Puran on Manabasa Gurubar?
Reciting the Laxmi Puran is one of the most important parts of Manabasa Gurubar. Women congregate and read aloud from this ancient text, which tells the tale of Maa Laxmi’s visit to Shriya Chandaluni. They uphold Maa Laxmi’s principles and reconfirm their dedication to equality, kindness, and compassion by reading this narrative.
The Laxmi Puran serves as a potent reminder of social equality in addition to being a religious literature. The story highlights that everyone can get Maa Laxmi’s blessings if they live a life of dedication and humility, regardless of caste or status. Odia spouses find great resonance in this potent message, which they interpret as a means of reaffirming respect for everyone in their communities.
How to Know About the Deep Connection Between Maa Laxmi and Odia Culture?
Manabasa Gurubar creates a deep connection between the Odia culture and Maa Laxmi. The married wives remember the Manabasa Gurubar 2024 Date to worship good and get blessings for their families. The Odia people get ready for this sacred festival and unite in their hope for peace, prosperity, and guidance with the power of devotion and compassion.