SAMBALPUR: Dussehra has a special significance for the sisters of Western Orissa. Like every year, this year too, the sisters of the region are anxiously waiting to celebrate ‘Bhai Juintia’ on Ashwina Sukla Pakhya Astami (eighth day of bright fortnight of Ashwina month as per Hindu almanac), which will be observed on Tuesday this year.Markets across the region were crowded on Monday with sisters busy in buying required commodities for the occasion.On the auspicious day, both married and unmarried sisters fast for 24 hours without water, praying for the long life and well-being of their brothers.Traditionally, a group of sisters gather at an open space in their localities and worship Goddess Durga decorated with mango leaves, wild plants and flowers. Earlier in the day, bunches of duba (108 strands of green grass) wrapped up with freshly plucked sal leaf are prepared for each brother and the Goddess. Besides duba, each bundle consists of 108 unbroken rice (non-boiled rice) and tied up with a colourful juintia (sacred thread).The sisters dressed up in new attire offer all the bundles along with prasad like jugar (made of puffed rice), puri (made of flour) and tikhri (made of mung dal) and varieties of fruits to the Goddess.In the wee hours of Nabami, the following day, the sisters take a holy dip in a nearby tank or river and perform ritual near the water body by offering slices of cucumbers and chopped kathi (short sal sticks used for brushing teeth).Back home, she breaks her fast after touching her brother with the duba bunch from head to toe and presenting him delicacies and gifts. On the other hand, a brother specially invites his married sisters to observe Bhai Juintia and celebrate Dussehra at her parental house. Brother’s invitation to sister is a special feature of this celebration which speaks of the bond between a sister and her brother.
Comments
0 comment