Indus Valley Times

 BY AKSHYA ROUT

JAJPUR,NOV 24 :  The last five days of the holy month Kartika in Odisha are observed as Panchuka.during which most of the people in Odisha abstain from non-vegetarian food.

The last five days of the month of Kartika, i.e. from Deva Uthapana or Bada Ekadashi to the full moon, are celebrated as holy days. It is also known as Mahapanchuk, Baka Panchuka or or Vishnu Panchuka. Those who can’t afford to observe the whole month of Kartika, they do it for five days.

Many also starts observing from Aaanla Nabami (the day of Radha Pada Darshan), which also culminates on Kartika Purnima. So few people celebrate for 7 days i.e. from Aaanla Nabami to Kartika Purnima. The last five days of Kartika is known as Baka Panchuka and it is believed that even the herons (known as Baka or Baga in Odia dialect) stop eating fish.

So this is also known as Baka panchuka. During these five days, women and widows wake up before Sunrise and have bath. They make colourful rangolis using muruja around the Chaura.

 Further, they pray in front of the chaura. As per the tradition, women use to organise Akashadeepa during the five days. It is a lighted deepa (earthen lamp) filled with ghee, placed inside an earthen pot and pulled atop an erect pole using a pulley and fastened.

It is lighted near the chaura during the evening and burns throughout the night. On the day of Kartik Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, people of all age group go to nearby water bodies to set afloat toy decorated boats with lamps, betel leaves, crackers, fruits and coins. The festival is called Boita Bandana.

The festival is a mass commemoration of the state’s glorious maritime history when its tradesmen and known as sadhabas traveled on boitas/boats to trade with distant island nations like Java, Sumatra and Bali. It is popularly believed that the chastity and purity of Vrundavati sustained the life of her husband, who didn’t follow any dharma.

Thus by propitiating Vґundavati, women believe that they can earn the same merit. Lord Jagannath is adorned in different Bhesa (attires) on all the five days. He is adorned in the form of Laxminarayan on the first day, followed by Bankachuda Bhesa, Tribikrama Bhesa and Laxminrusingha Bhesa. The last day of Panchuka is very crucial as the Lord gives darshan to the devotees in Rajarajeswar Bhesa.

Writer Rachita Mishra Said Panchuka is the last five days of Kartika, the Hindu holy month, during which most Odisha residents abstain from eating non-vegetarian cuisine.Social Worker Truptirekha Sahoo Said On this day, many devotees, particularly widows, travel from all over Odisha to Puri to see the deities at the Shree Jagannath Temple. Those who are unable to observe the rites throughout the month of Kartika can do so during the last five days.