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Jaya Jagannath,
Today the ninth day of the
waxing phase of moon ( Kartik masa Shukla Pakshya Nabami ) is being
celebrated across Orissa as Aanla Nabami. This day especially Women
offer Gooseberry twigs during pujas and rituals at the Sakhigopal
Temple and fetch darshan of Goddess Radha in the temple. Due to rich
medicinal and therapeutic values of amla, the Puranas also equate
Amla Tree with Goddess Lakshmi. Amla also known as Dhatri is also
worshiped essentially for prosperity and auspiciousness.
Coming up next is Panchaka and Boita
Bandana
‘Panchaka’ will be celebrated from October 29 Thursday till Boita
Bandana on Kartika Purnima the 2nd of November at the Shaivite
shrine at Dhabaleswar. World famous ‘Badasinghara’ vesha will be
attired to lord Jagannath on this day. Panckuka, the last five days
of Kartik month has great significance to Lord Jagannath devotees.
Traditionally, staunch devotees of Lord Jagannath abstain from all
type of non-vegetarian foods during the entire Kartik month but
those who are unable to follow it, observe it during these last five
days of the month. Panchaka begins on Ekadasi day during the Shukla
Paksha in Kartik month and ends on Kartik Purnima ( 2nd October
Panchaka is strictly observed elderly men and women and many of them
stay in Puri and visit the Jagannath shrine during the period.
Mythology : Rai, the beautiful
daughter of temple head priest at Lord Jagannath temple has
eternally married to the Lord and thus was deified. She was granted
a boon by the divine consort of the Lord Lakshmi that she would be
worshipped along with Lakshmi. The widows worship Damodar along with
Rai and Lakshmi by having only one meal of sun-dried rice, called 'havisha
'. The last five days of this holy month are known as 'BagaPanchaka'.
During these five days only Lakshmi and Narayan was worshipped.
During the Panchaka days, married women also worship goddess
Vrundavati at the altar with the sacred basil plant, by decorating
the place with beautiful designs in multi-colored powders made from
indigenous herbs and other materials.
On today’s auspicious of Aanla nabami, Team Nilachakra wishes all a
divine and healthy life nourished all goodness and essence of Aaanla.
Jaya Jagannath.
Regards
Team Nilachakra
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