Samba Dashamee

"SAMBA DASHAMEE" It is a festival unique to Odisha and is celebrated on 10th day of the Sukla Paksha of Pausha Masa. Legends say that Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, was afflicted by leprosy and he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, after 12 years of penance near Konark. So on this day, all mothers pray to Sun God to keep their kids he...althy.. On this day, female folks of thefamily wake up early in the morning before sun rise. After bath,they prepare variety of food items like, Khichdi, Udiya Puli,Ghadghadia Tarkari (a curry item) and offer them to Sun God during sun rise. One of the specific characters of this ritual is variety of individual food item is offered to Sun God in the name of each member of the family,After that female folks of the families go on preparing variety of Pitha (Cake) like; Manda Pitha, Kakara Pitha, Arisha Pitha, BiriLaddoo and other items like MakarChaula, Chhenaguda, Dhanu Muaan, sweet dishes like Khiri,Rasagola, Jhilli, Chhenagaja, Sweet Curd etc. all over the day. In the noon time, a bowl of turmericwater with a beetle in it is taken to ‘chaunra mula’ (a small temple likes tructure with a Tulsi plant overhead). All the cooked foods are served in plates. Then female heads of the family see the face of Sun God through the bowl of turmeric water and offer all the cuisine to the God. They readthe legend of ‘Samba Dasami Brata Katha’ and pray for the well-being of the whole family members.In the late night or evening, anotherpuja is observed as a part of SambaDasami ritual. This is known as‘ Mahakala Puja’. Special Budha Chakuli is offered to Yama.

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