Janhi Osa Gita Book
Janhi Osa Gita Book
The people of Odisha in their day to day life observe with austerity a number of Bratas, Oshas and Pujas throughout the year. Kumar Purnima is one among them. It falls on the full moon day of Aswina in the month of October mostly fifth day after Dussehra Puja. This is the festival observed by the woman folk of Ganjam in worshipping the full moon at rising. Aswina Purnima is the time
comes after completion of agricultural works in the crops fields and the farmers are to worship Goddess Durga and Laxmi for better production. The adolescents (Kumars and Kumaris) celebrate the full day and night in full joy and happiness. The girls dress themselves in new cotton or silk dresses and enjoy the festivity by singing song, dancing and playing different rural but traditional games. In the evening, they assemble at the Pujasthali (spot of worship) near the Tulasichaunra
to worship. They worship the moon with offering of Kakara Pitha (a type of special rounded cake looks like moon).
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Kumar Purnima in Odisha
On the Kumar Purnima day, the parents send good wishes along with a Bhara (new dresses & Sarees etc.) to their married daughter and Son-in-laws to mark the occasion. The festival is also known as Kumar Utsav. In the Hindu Sastras, Kumar represents the Lord Karttika, who looks very handsome. Accordingly, it is said that the Kumaris (adolescent girls) observe this Chandra Puja in austerity for wellbeing of their brother and also to get a very handsome husband
like the eldest son of Shiva, the Karttika. The other name of this full moon festival is also known as Kumar Purnima in Odishan Culture Dr. Prafulla Chandra Mohanty Koumudi Utsava as described in Kamsastra. The Sastra also describes that the full moon stays on this day in the sixteen Kalas on different points of
the female body making them differently sensitive. The sixteen kalas are Pusha, Yasha, Sumanasha, Rati, Prapti, Dhruti, Rudhi, Soumya, Mariachi,
Ansumalini, Angira, Sashimi, Chhaya, Sampurna Mandala, Tusti and Aarata.
Autumn being the symbol of cleanliness and decency, the scenic beauty of the nature looks this time very beautiful. It is green, the night experiences brightest moonlight of the entire year. The eve is auspicious. The girls end their month
long Janhi Osha in the street of the villages. Janhi, a vegetable is to be worshipped with the flowers of Janhi. Janhiphool looks very bright like moon
and blossoms towards the evening only. The folk song on Janhi Osha, goes as
