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Jaya Jagannath,
With the eighth day of
Margasira month is about to onset, Prathamastami celebration is
arriving with all it’s fragrance and aroma for the eldest child of
the family. A special variety of rice cake called “Endure Pitha”
marks this delicady.
The social significance of this festival is that the first-borns are
brighter and it is ultimately they who take up the burden of the
family after the death of the parents. The eldest of the family is
given new clothes and is made to sit on a wooden pedestal (Pidha).
In fornt of him/her an earthen pitcher, full of water is placed on
handfuls of paddy. Above it a branch of mango leaves and a cocoanut
is placed. Then, the mother or any other elderly lady wishes him
/her long-life and good health by praying Sasthi Debi, the Goddess
that protects children. According to psychologists the first-borns
are mostly healthy, obedient and tradition-bound. Therefore, the
family tradition is maintained through them. For such obvious
reasons the eldest child is honored to occupy the respectable place
in the family after the death of the parents.
At Lingaraj temple Bhubaneswar, the festival is observed with a
procession of the representative deity of Lingaraj called "Papanasini"
to a tank behind the temple. On behalf of Auspicious festival
Prathamastami, Team Nilachakra wishes all those elder in families a
devotional day. Jaya Jagannath.
Regards
Team Nilachakra
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