Odisha: India shelters a wide range of customs and traditions. Odisha never lags behind in celebration and appreciation of its culture. Even the CoVid pandemic could not put a chain around the exuberating spirit of Odia people to celebrate the joyous festival of spinsters- Kumar Purnima.
What makes this festival stand out is its age-old traditions and the cuisine of white colour, resembling to the colour of moon. The unmarried girls keep fast whole day long and only eat after worshiping the rising moon. The young maidens pray to lord Kartikeya in a wish to get a suitable husband.
Decorations are made with flowers, mainly with lily and different other white flowers around the Tulsi plant. Tulsi plant is worshiped as Goddess Brindabati, in every household of Odisha. The ritual is known as ‘Anjuli’ in Odia.
All the offerings that are made must be of white colour. Girls offer banana, ridge gourd, coconut, cucumber, along with other delicious dishes such as pithas(wheat cake). Luscious items are made from cheese, khaee (puffed rice with jaggery), grated banana and coconut are smashed and made in shape of moon, which is called Chanda chakata.
