The full-moon day in the month of October-November is celebrated as Kumar Purnima. It is celebrated as the birthday of Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. The day is also known as Sharad Purnima, Kojagiri, or Kojagori Purnima in various parts of the country, is when young girls in Odisha perform traditional rituals with the belief of getting ideal life partners.
Morning ritual, ‘Anjula Teka’ The kumaries wake up before sunrise, bathe, and get dressed to perform the ‘Anjula Teka’ ritual. The girls wear new clothes and offer a palmful of prasad to the sun, which is called ‘Anjuli’.
For a handsome husband like Kartikeya Lord Kumar Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, was very good-looking and the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom of gods. Therefore, maidens celebrate this festival and perform rituals, aspiring for a husband, as handsome as him.
Waiting for the full moon The full moon is the center of attraction in this festival. Girls raise the ‘Chanda chakata’ and pray to the moon. The moon is also synonymous with a handsome husband that the girls are seeking for themselves. Old grannies think that a girl has to see the ‘Udila Janha’ for a young and attractive husband.
The yummy ‘Chanda chakata’ The ‘Chanda chakata’ is a delicacy made up of ‘khaee’, jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, sugarcane, talasajja, cucumber, ghee, honey and milk is laid out on a ‘kula’ (winnowing fan) in the shape of a half moon and offered to the moon.
Beginning of ‘Kartika’ month Kumar Purnima also marks the beginning of the auspicious month of “Kartika” in Odia households. Lord Jagannath and Krishna are prayed throughout the month of ‘Kartika’ that commences from the day after Kumar Purnima till ‘Rasa’ Purnima.
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.
In several parts of eastern India such as Bengal, Assam, Odisha, eastern Bihar, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Sharad Purnima. Maa Lokkhi as Lakshmi or the goddess of wealth is called in Bengali is described as chapala or fickle-minded and so devotees worship Lakshmi to win her affection and blessings.
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.