Bhubaneswar, Oct. 14: Odia households are busy with preparations for the Kumar Purnima festival tomorrow.
The festival is significant to unmarried girls, who pray to Lord Kartikeya on this day for a husband like him.
They wear new clothes and chant prayers to the sun and the moon gods for a husband like Lord Kartikeya, who is considered the most handsome of all gods.
Kumar is the other name of Lord Kartikeya. Girls try to please him by fasting and offering prayers on the Kumar Purnima festival, observed on a full-moon day in Ashwin.
Ceremonies begin early in the morning by prayers offered to the sun god, followed by fasting throughout the day. The fast is broken in the evening after worshipping the moon god.
Markets witness huge rush around this time as people buy new clothes and other things needed to conduct the ceremonies of the festival.
"This festival is a special day for girls. It is not always about getting the perfect husband. The celebrations bring people together. It feel great to wear new clothes during festivities," said a 23-year-old college student, Sushmita Dash.
Delicacies such as poda pitha, arisa pitha and manda pitha are prepared in the households. Girls in groups draw jhotis (motifs or designs drawn on a horizontal surface using rice paste on auspicious occasions) in front of a tulasi plant.
On the occasion, a traditional game called Puchi is played by the residents in the rural areas and many villages conduct mock marriages of children called Kumari Bibaha.
In this tradition, two girls enact the role of bride and groom and the whole village take part to solemnise the mock marriage.
A number of cultural programmes are being organised in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack this time. Celebrating the festival's heritage, a two-day Kumar Utsav was organised at Rabindra Mandap here where noted dancers and musicians performed.
This apart, the 11-day Gajalakshmi Puja also commences tomorrow. The festival will be a grand affair in the city with lavish pandals and huge idols.
Vani Vihar, Nayapalli and Sriya Square in Bhubaneswar have maximum number of pandals. The pandals will have exquisite themes through lighting.
The Bhubaneswar Friends' Club that has been hosting the puja for the past 36 years have made arrangements to have musical events this year.
"The silver necklace and crown of the goddess has been our attraction," said general secretary of the Puja committee Maruti Acharya.
Kendrapara and Dhenkanal, famous for the grandiosity of Gajalakshmi Puja, will make elaborate arrangements this year as well. Festive lights have already illuminated major thoroughfares of these places.
