Devotees prepare jhoti in the month of Kartik. Picture by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 4: Devotion and spirituality take different forms in the auspicious month of Kartik. While followers of Lord Jagannath perform various rituals throughout the month and even follow a strict vegetarian diet, a unique tradition involved with the religious observance known as Kartik brata. This tradition involves drawing colourful patterns or jhoti near the basil plant of the household.

The basil plant, better known as tulasi chaura, transform us to a spiritual world. Patterns illustrating Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi and various symbols depicting them are drawn by Oriya women at the base of the tulasi plant throughout the month.

“We use natural elements such as leaves, flowers, burnt ashes of coconut shell and turmeric to produce colours such as yellow, black, green, red, pink, white and blue,” said Smrutisikha Satpathy, a homemaker. “These colours are used to draw the jhoti depicting Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. We also draw the forms of Radha and Krishna as Rai Damodar and the four guards of heaven (chari dwari) along side which the conch, wheel, gada (mace), padma (lotus), a kajal box, comb, beaded garlands, bangles and earrings are drawn as offerings to the deities,” she added.

Outlines of the images are first drawn with white powder. These are then filled with different colours. After Diwali, which falls on Kartik Amavasya or new moon day, the mythological legend of Lord Krishna holding the Govardhan hill is drawn. Goddess Radha’s feet are drawn on Anla Nabami. The drawings of Rai Damodar are made for 25 days of the Kartik month, while for the last five days known as Panchuka, these forms are replaced by the images of Laxmi and Narayan.

A common element in the pattern drawn daily under the tulasi plant during Kartik is the ladder. Devotees believe there is a special reason behind it.

“Since it is believed that we leave the worldly abode and start the spiritual journey after death by climbing a spiritual ladder, this drawing of the ladder of dharma or righteousness in our patterns also signifies that we wish to go to heaven,” said Maitree Devi, a 58-year-old devotee.

The tradition of creating the patterns concludes on Kartik Purnima, the last day of the religious month.