‘Sunia’ Observed With Traditional Fervour In Odisha’s Puri

Puri: Sunia, an important festival marking the beginning of the new Odia calendar, is being celebrated in the pilgrim town of Puri on Tuesday. Sunia rituals are being observed at the royal palace of Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deba with traditional fervour, pomp and gaiety.

On the occasion of Bhadraba Shukla Paksha Dwadasi tithi, Sunia is also being observed at various temples and mutts Puri.

As per legends, the term Sunia is a combination of the prefix su – meaning ‘good’ and verb nia – meaning ‘taking’. The ‘giving and taking’ relates to the revenue collection by the king from the subjects in the past. The collection was carried out on this day, which made the kings pleased and the subjects relaxed as they paid their dues. Some People also gave gifts to the king to express their love for him. So Sunia literally refers to a day on which things are taken and given on good terms.

Similarly, ‘Vamana Janma’ and ‘Garuda Parswaparibartana’ are being observed at Shree Jagannath Temple in the pilgrim town of Odisha. Vamana Janma is observed to commemorate the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a vamana (a dwarf). After ‘Madhyana Dhupa’ secret rituals of Vamana Janma is performed at the 12th century shrine, according to a Jagannath culture researcher.

Sunia has been an important day for the king of Puri. At the king’s palace, a special ceremony for the king called the Abhisheka is observed on this day along with the announcement of the New Year, new anka and tithi.

In the past, the kings considered the day suitable to carry out important administrative activities like the introduction of new gold coins, collection of revenue from the subjects and preparation for new invasions.