Women check out garments at a store in Bhubaneswar ahead of Kumar Purnima celebrations. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 17: Young girls of the state are gearing up to look their best and seek blessings of the Moon God on Kumar Purnima festival that falls on Friday.

The full moon day (purnima) also marks the beginning of the 11-day Gajalaxmi Puja that is celebrated across the state.

Celebrated on the last day of the Ashwin month, the Kumar Purnima festival is the occasion to observe the birthday of Lord Kartikeswara, the son of Lord Shiv and Goddess Parvati.

In the morning, unmarried girls wear new clothes, ornaments and accessories and worship the Sun God. But the rituals hosted in the evening to please the Moon God form the major part of the festival.

A crescent shaped food item Chanda is prepared out of bananas, cottage cheese, grated coconut and flowers and this is offered to the full moon in the evening.

It is believed that unmarried girls get a good life partner if they perform these rituals.

An array of delicious country cakes or pithas is prepared at home and the floors of the verandah as well as backyard and the entrance of the house are decorated with design patterns created with the help of rice paste.

Shyampur village, which is situated on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, hosts a mock-wedding ceremony between two girls. Although this ritual adds fun to the festivities, the villagers host a real feast for the wedding.

“Kumar Purnima is a special day for girls. Although praying and performing rituals to get a suitable match is passé, the get together of all unmarried girls of the family definitely leads to a lot of fun,” said Ankita Nayak, college student.

Bhubaneswar and Dhenkanal are going to celebrate Gajalaxmi Puja. While every year the festival is a grand affair with lavish pandals and huge idols and decoration, this year, considering the devastation caused by Phailin, the organisers are keeping it a low-key affair.

Kendrapada, which is also known for Gajalaxmi Puja, is severely affected by floods and hence very few idols will be set up this year.

“We will not use too much lights or make grand pandals. We will also keep music subtle as our people in Ganjam are suffering in the aftermath of Phailin,” said Sudipta Badajena, a member of Bhubaneswar’s Ashok Nagar Puja Committee.

There will be some festivities in Dhenkanal though. The entire town has been decorated beautifully and over 60 idols will be worshipped here.

The prominent sites for Puja pandals are Meena Bazar, Jabahar Chhack, Laxmi Bazar, Ganesh Bazar, Baji Chowk, Mahabir Bazar, Bus stand, College bazaar, Anandabazar, Deulsahi and Annapurna Bazar.