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“You are not an Odia if you aren’t celebrating 13 major festivals in a year” is a popular Odia proverb. Prathamastami is a special occasion in which the firstborn child of every family in Odisha is celebrated. The celebration is also known as “Podhuan”. Well, this year, there has been a lot of confusion regarding the Prathamastami Date 2024. So, this year, the Odia people will celebrate this auspicious festival on 23rd November 2024. Read this comprehensive guide to understand the significance of this festival in Odia culture.
Why is the Prathamastami Festival celebrated for the first-born child?
Now you know the Prathamastami Date 2024, understand its significance. Prathamastami is one of the popular Odia festive occasions celebrated in the Ashtami months of Margashira, according to the Odia calendar. The festival is celebrated on the 8th day of Kartik Purnima. The festival is celebrated for the long life & prosperity of the first-born child of every household.
Prayers are done to protect the kid from all kinds of evils. The firstborn child is often referred to as the rightful heir to the family’s legacy, values & responsibilities. On this day, the eldest child of the family wears new clothes & eats a special traditional & authentic sweet dish, “Enduri Pitha.”
The rituals of prathamastami
In prathamastami rituals, the mother & relatives of the eldest child do Arati. The child is smeared with flowers, doob-Patra & Akshata, and sandal paste. It is a tradition that the maternal uncle offers new clothes to the child. During the Puja, five grains, 5 flowers & 5 leaves are offered to the Lord Ganesha & the Ishta Devi/devta. As food offerings, 5 types of dishes are served to the god, including cakes, sweets, Enduri Pitha & curry. New clothes given by the maternal uncle are first worshipped, and then they are given to the kid to worship.
The hidden history behind the festival
As per the belief, it is said that on this day, Lord Lingaraj visited Kapali Matha, where his maternal uncle’s deities are located. The presiding deities in this Matha, Lord Baruneswar & Mata Banadevi, the maternal uncle & aunt of Lord Lingaraj, celebrate his visit. Furthermore, around this time, the good crops are Yielded, leading to good harvesting. This festival holds the significance of prosperity & goodwill.
As per another belief, on this day, Krishna & Balram visited the maternal uncle, where they are honoured. Even lord Jagannath & Balavadra also follow this ritual. On this day, a special “Bandapana” was arranged for the Bada Mahaprabhu Balabhadra. The special rituals are followed in the SriMandira of Puri.
Haldi Patra enduri pitha- A special cake
This is a special rice cake filled with the sweet stuffing of Coconut & wrapped in the green leaves of the turmeric plant. After that, it is steamed and offered to the Sasthi Devi to protect the eldest child from the evil vibes. This Pitha is popular among Odia people because of its favoured aroma, which is due to the usage of turmeric leaves.
To prepare this special Pitha as part of the prathamastami rituals, a pot called Athaara handi is mounted on the heat with its mouth tied. Inside this, the Pitha is placed and steamed. The filling inside the batter contains Jaggery, grated coconut, chenna, cardamom, etc. It is properly covered for steam & gets cooked. Apart from this pitha, there are some more dishes that are prepared and served to the eldest child, such as Bhoga, which are Khiri, Mua, & Dalma (a curry made with multiple veggies).
Adding a Modern twist to the traditional culture
In this age of social media, people are celebrating this popular tradition online if they are far from their families. Thanks to social media applications that connect people from all around the world, these celebrations are currently personalised with themed decorations that add aesthetic contemporary flair.
As the Prathamastami Date 2024 is near, the people in Odisha are excited. It’s not just a festival but an opportunity to cherish the unity of a family. You can also add the extra layer of joy & celebration by adding your unique touch.
Overall, Prathamastami is the Odia festival celebrated every year for the long life & prosperity of the firstborn of every family
