This village of Bhadrak district best known for its love for culture and tradition: Watch
By: Himanshu Guru
In today’s time even villages in Odisha have come under the grasp of modern charms. The young generation has started to move towards cities leaving behind the rural life. However, there is a village in Odisha that still loves to live amid observance of traditions, customs and as old practices.
The Gurusasan village in Dhamnagar block under Kothar panchayat in Bhadrak district of Odisha is such a village where people have been observing age old traditions and practices for the last two hundred years. The villagers here love to live in a divine atmosphere. That is the reason they celebrate every festival and tradition with pump and show. The 97 year old freedom fighter of the village Laxmidhar Mishra is regarded as the Murabi of the village.
Origin
Located in Kothar Panchayat Gurusasan village had been established by Guruprasad Ghosh, the erstwhile Zamindar of the Kothar estate. Initially, 10 Bramhin families were established here. He also named the village. Besides, he also established a Lord Shiva temple in the village.
These days about 200 persons of 15 bramhin families are living together in the village. The erstwhile Zamindar had also donated 150 acres of land for these families. Established in the bank of River Genguti There is a Harihar temple in the end of the village. In another temple Faneshware Mahadev and Lord Jagannath are being worshipped. Apart from that at one end of the village we can find the temple of the village deity (Grama devati) Maa Narayani and there is a Goddess Durga temple in the middle of the village.
Festivals
The villagers love to be involved in festivals and live in spiritual atmosphere. Jagara Jatra, Durga Puja festival and Rahasa Purnima are celebrated in the village with all enthusiasm. Besides, they also observe Bhagabata Saptaha.
Rahasa Purnima
The Panchaka or Rahasa Purnima is a major festival in this village. Spiritual fervour grips the whole village during the seven days of Rahasa Purnima. Almost everybody in the village from all age groups get involved in the worship of Lord Harihara during these days. The whole village celebrates these seven days as a festival. People of this village who have shifted outside visit the village during this festival.
Women play an important part in Rahasa Purnima. The elderly women of the village observe habisya during Rahasa Purnima. Women worship Goddess Brundabati near the Harihar temple together in a unique way. Baluka puja, Chaura puja, worship of Lord Radhakrishna and Akash Deep are done during these seven days. People listen to Bhagabata in these seven days. They say that tradition is everything for them.
This year also the Rahasa Purnima was observed that started from Anla Navami to continue for 7 days.
Another interesting thing is akin to Puri, here also Ananda bazar gets organised. Everybody consume the offerings together. Women cook the offerings with love. These unique practices of this village make it different from others.
With inputs from: Naredra Samal, Bhadrak
Kalinga AI