Prathamastami - Festival Of Odisha

Incredible India has some incredible festivals.

Odisha, a state of India, has some unique & interesting festivals.

Today is the eighth day in the Odia month of Margashira (8 days after Kartik Purnima). It is celebrated as Prathamastami. (Prathama means first & Astami means eighth day)

Prathamastami is celebrated in Odisha for the wellness, long-life & prosperity of the first-born or eldest child in a family. Gender is not an issue, qualification needed is one has to be the first-born child of her/his parents!

First-borns have some special privileges and are entrusted extra responsibilities in India. Being the eldest has its perks too - rewarded with extra “share” called the “Jyeshta-bhaga” (Part/share of the eldest).

Prathamastami makes the siblings jealous when the eldest sibling gets the attention & new clothes! Who doesn’t want new clothes, good food & special treatment?

Their argument- Why should the first-borns have all the fun? ;)

In some families of 4-5 members, where both the parents happen to be the first-born, a majority in the family is first-born! They celebrate Parthamastami for all their kids so that the younger ones don’t cry or feel left out! 

Worship to Gods like Sathi/Shasthi Devi & Lord Ganesha & family deity is crucial as they protect children. Prayers for well-being & to avoid malignant health issues.

The first-borns wear new clothes gifted by their maternal grandparents/uncle. The first-borns, dressed in new, are honored amidst chanting of mantras & arati/dwipa (lighted lamp) by the elderly ladies- grandmother/mother.

Kheer (Indian dessert) called Kheeri/Khiri in Odia, is also prepared along with a special type of Pitha. The Gods are offered first and then after the first-born has, it's open for all! Then, no one feels left out!

Haladi Patra ; Pic with permission from- Saswat K Swain

The whole family and visitors get treated with yummy Enduri Pitha – preparation of Ural Dal (Black Gram) & Rice with a sweet filling made of coconut & sugar/jaggery. As the said Pitha is set inside turmeric leaves & steam-baked, it’s also called Haladi Patra Pitha (In Odia language, Patra means leaf & Haladi means Turmeric)

Those Odias, who are away from their parents/elders, find themselves yearning for this...

Enduri Pitha ; Pic with permission from- Saswat K Swain

This Festival is not celebrated in some families of Odisha viz. it’s not there in my paternal grandmother’s place. When I inquired why it was so, Mom explained perhaps in one of the previous generations in our family, an eldest child had accidentally passed away, and hence the family stopped the celebrations. But, the abstaining still continues and the later generations have missed it..

As the first-born of my parents, I didn’t get to be a part of the customary celebrations. However, Mom made the Pithas pretty often and bought new clothes to more than compensate!

In the age of globalization, people the world over are adopting & celebrating many more events and festivals that were initially not a part of the local culture.

Did our elders in India have “cake” to celebrate their birthdays? My parents didn’t! Celebrations were in the traditional way. But, now many celebrate with birthday-cakes.
Even festivals like Dhanteras, Karwa Chauth, Halloween, Diwali to name a few, have attracted many more new “followers”. 

I feel we must celebrate our traditional festivals. Many who are out of home, continue yearning. If we like some thing, it’s fine to accept, adopt it for use & also popularize it so that many can be aware of and join in the celebrations. 

Happy Prathamastami! Best wishes to all the first-borns, irrespective of regional locations! 

Are you the first-born child in your family? Do you have a similar festival in your family/home-state? Are you aware if such a festival is celebrated in any other state/country? Please share & make us aware! 


Linking with Three Word Wednesday- Crucial, Malignant, Yearning