Kumar Purnima 2025: Know how it is celebrated and know the significance here
Kumar Purnima is one of the much awaited festivals for girls in Odisha, here are the details on the rituals and significance of this day
Kumar Purnima is a major festivals for girls in Odisha, it is as important and widely observed as Raja Sankranti. It is believed that Kumar or Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva was born on this day.
Young girls across the state of Odisha perform traditional rituals with a popular belief that they will get a perfect life partner like Kumar or Kartikeya. Prayer and food is offered to sun and the moon on this day with two separate and unique set of rituals.
The day starts with the girls offering ‘Anjuli’ to Surya (the sun) just during the sunrise near the Tulsi plant. The offerings are made seven times with ‘khai’ on the Kula (an open vessel made of coconut leaf) along with fruits like coconut, banana, cucumber, betel nut, sugar-cane, janhi or striped gourd and flowers followed by Arati and ululation.
Later in the evening as soon as the moon appears in the sky offerings are made with the delicious ‘Chanda Chakata’. It is a sweet tasting delicacy made of khai, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, sugarcane, tala saja (ice apple), cucumber, ghee, honey and milk.
It is laid out on the ‘kula’ in the shape of a half-moon and offered to the moon on Kumar Purnima.
The delicacy is offered near the Tulsi plant. The place of the offering is decorated with flowers and diya and dhupa (incense stick), bringing an end to the rituals amid the sound of ‘huluhuli’ (ululation) and sankha (conch).
Interestingly, it is believed that a girl has to see the ‘Uinla Janha’, the fresh moon that has just risen, for a young and attractive husband. But if she sees the risen moon, then an old bridegroom shall be there in her destiny.
With the old folklore “Kumara Punei Janha lo” girls offer the Chanda Chakata prasad to the moon. Thereafter, some part of the prasad is thrown in a pond or water and later everyone consumes the rest. ‘Puchi khela’ is one signature game of this festival. This is played in a squatting position where one’s weight is shifted and balanced from one leg to another rapidly.
In Bengal, devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi on Sharad Purnima for prosperity and abundance. It also marks the harvest festival, signifying the end of the rainy season. People, especially women observe the day-long Sharad Purnima fast (vrat) and prayers to Goddess Laxmi and Lord Vishnu.
The puja samagri must include incense, lamp, kheer as an offering. Many people also feed brahmans and provide offerings to pandits. It is worth mentioning here that the day also marks the beginning of Gajalaxmi Puja across the state.
