| LAKSHMI
PUJA |
|
| Celebrated In
: Throughout Orissa |
|
| Also known as
: Manabasa Gurubara |
|
| In the month
of : Margashirsha (December - January) |
|
|
|
| With the harvest
brought home the farmers feel greatly satisfied with the yield. After six months of toil
in the field, they fill the granaries with the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. So, the whole
month of Margashira is spent in worshipping the Goddess. All the rituals connected with
the festival "Manabasa Gurubara" or "Lakshmi Puja" is done by
housewives themselves. |
|
| On each Thursday
of the month the houses are plastered with cow-dung, the floors are decorated with
beautiful floral designs drawn with rice-powder mixed with water. This is called 'Jhoti'.
Footmarks are painted from the doorstep to the place of worship as if Goddess Lakshmi has
entered the house. The roofs are decorated with flower garlands and festoon woven out of
paddy stalks. |
 |
|
|
Main
Ritual
After purificatory bath in the morning the housewives worship the Goddess, not through an
image but significantly through paddy-measures. Different varieties of rice-cakes and
'Kshiri' (rice-soup prepared with milk and sugar) are prepared in every household and are
offered to the deity and then taken by all. |
|
The
Legend
In the evening the 'Laxmi Purana' is read or recited in which an interesting story is
told. Once 'Shreeya', an untouchable woman worshipped Goddess Lakshmi by observing this
festival. Being moved by her devotion Lakshmi left Her permanent abode, the temple which
is situated inside the campus of the temple of Lord Jagannatha and visited Shreeya's
house. When Lord Balabhadra, the elder brother of Lord Jagannatha came to know about this,
She was declared defiled and was not allowed to come back into the temple. Lakshmi was
deeply hurt and went to her father Sahara. |
|
| When Lakshmi went
out of the temple all wealth in the temple started vanishing. Later the Gods Balabhadra
and Jagannatha couldn't find food to sustain themselves. They came out of the temple in
the attire of Brahmin beggars in search of food. Ultimately they landed at the door of the
Goddess Lakshmi. Balabhadra apologised for the mistake and all of them returned to the
temple. |
|
| The 'Purana'
ultimately teaches all to pay extreme regard to Goddess Lakshmi and the person who
disregards Her is sure to fall on evil days. This means that wealth should be well
protected and properly used and misutilisation of wealth is sure to make a person suffer. |
|
|
|
|
|
