Bhai Jiuntia – A unique
festival when young women seek divine blessings for brothers
By Akshaya Kumar
SahoooGirls observing Bhai Jiuntia (PC: Kalinga TV)
Bhai Jiuntia of
Subarnapur in western Odisha is a different cultural festival. Young women
observe this festival with much gaiety.
On this occasion,
the young women worship Goddess Durga after she enters the Khambeswari temple
in Subarnapur town.
In middle of all the
villages of the district, the young women celebrate the festival.
In the evening, the girls
also assemble and sing songs hailing Maa Durga to bless their brothers.
During the puja, the
girls offer 10 different kinds of flower to Goddess Durga.
“On Bhai Jiuntia
which is observed after the Mahashtami Puja of Goddess Durga, this festival
begins. We observe fasting during this time for the whole day and take food
after worshiping Durga in the evening. Apart from 10 different flowers, we
offer 108 pieces of grass, rice to the deity. On the next day, we touch our
brothers with the holy grass and rice and offer them new clothes,” said
Kishori.
Apart from wishing
good life for brothers, the girls also seek Goddess Durga’s blessings for the
whole family.
Gadadhar Barik, a
researcher of Subarnapur, says Bhai Jiuntia is very old tradition of the region
and it is increasingly being popular these days.
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