Puri: Thousands of devotees thronged Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri as Panchuka, the last four days of holy month Kartika, began on Tuesday.
The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure hassle-free darshan of the sibling deities at Shree Jagannath Temple during this period. Barricades have been installed and Bada Danda has been declared a no-vehicle zone from municipal market square. Volunteers will also distribute drinking water among the devotees waiting in queue to enter the shrine,” Collector Sidharth Shankar Swain informed.
Adequate lifeguards and fire services personnel have been deployed on the five km stretch of sea from Chakratirtha to Swargadwar to prevent any drowning incident when devotees in large numbers take holy dip in Mahodadhi on the last day of Panchuka (Kartik Purnima), he added.
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A total of 30 platoons of police personnel along with senior officers have been deployed in the town to maintain order.
The Holy Month & Five-Day Penance
This year, the Panchuka is being observed for only four days since the moon will travel past the last five specific star fields or Nakshatras in four days instead of the usual five days, according to astrologers.
Also Read: 4-Day ‘Panchuka’ This Time In Odisha; Know Why
It is a practice among Odias to give up non-vegetarian food during Kartika month. Those who cannot observe it for the entire month, give up eating non-vegetarian food on these last five days, which is also known as Bagарanchuka, the period during which it is said, even cranes turn pious and abandon eating fish.
Panchuka Rituals & Legends
“These five days are also known as Bhishmapachuka. Childless couples observe Bhishma Vrata and give offerings in form of water (argya),” said Jagannath Culture scholar Prafulla Rath.
On Ekadasi, people light 1 lakh lamps and do parikrama of Jagannath Temple in Puri. “This also marks the beginning of the auspicious period when weddings and thread ceremonies can be conducted. Ekadasi belongs to Vishnu and Chaturdasi to Shiva,” he said.
Rath further said that the last day of Panchuka is also called Tripurari Purnima, it was on this day that Lord Shiva vanquished Tripurasuras. It is also the birthday of Vrundavati.
“Though Ravana was killed on Bijayadasami, he breathed his last after 35 days on Kartika Purnima,” he said.
Lord Jagannath gives darshan to the devotees in Rajarajeswar Bhesa on this day, he averred.
“Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a fish to save the four Vedas from the clutches of the demons and save Manu from the Jal Pralay on Kartika Purnima,” he informed.
These preceding five days are the preparatory phase for the advent of ‘Matsya Avatar’, he added.
“Habisa arna (food of the gods) and having meal once a day are the other important features of Kartika month when people take bath early in the morning,” he said.
People are also barred from cutting crops, trees and plucking flowers and fruits, he said, adding that this is also applicable for nails and hair. “The aim is to lead a Swastik life in harmony with nature. Married couples are also asked to refrain from physical intimacy during this period,” he said.
Kartika Purnima, when people sail boats made of banana plant barks/stems with coconut, bottle nut, chandan (sandalwood) and diya (lamp) in rivers, is an amalgamation of all these occasions and hence, considered the holiest month, he added.
Worshipping Vrundavati
During these five days, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayan are worshipped. Married women also worship Goddess Vrundavati, the wife of the demon Jalandhara, in the form of the sacred tulsi plant, praying for the long life of their husbands.
According to popular belief, the chastity and purity of Vrundavati sustained the life of her husband, who didn’t follow any dharma. Thus by propitiating Vґundavati, women believe that they can acquire the same merit.
Muruja is essential during this puja. Patterns are drawn on the floor in front of Tulsi Chaura. The white powder is obtained by grinding stones, green powder from dry leaves, black from burnt coconut shells, yellow from the petals of marigold flowers or turmeric and red from red clay or bricks. Devotees, who observe a month-long Kartika Brata, do not use black colour during Panchuka.
Lord Jagannath Beshas
Lord Jagannath is adorned in different Beshas (attires) on all the five days. He is adorned in the form of Laxminarayan on the first day, followed by Bankachuda Beshas, Tribikrama Beshas and Laxminrusingha Beshas. The last day of Panchuka is very crucial as the Lord gives darshan to the devotees in Rajarajeswar Beshas.
Bada Osha At Dhabaleswar
The district administration has made special arrangements for Bada Osha of Lord Shiva at Dhabaleswar temple. ‘Gaja Bhoga’ and ‘Tarana’ will be offered to the Lord amid ‘Trayodashi’ and ‘Chaturdashi’ tithis.
On the first day of Panchuka, Lord Dhabaleswar will give darshan to the devotees in ‘Chandramauli’ attire.