In Odisha, there is a saying that ‘Bara Masa Tera Parba’- its literal meaning is that 13 festivals are observed in 12 months in the state. And, its actual meaning is Odisha is a land of festivals. Festivals like Ganesh Puja, Kumar Purnima, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Deepabali, Dola Yatra, Gaja Laxmi Puja, Gahma Purnima, Raja, Rath Yatra and many others are observed here with much pomp and enthusiasm.
The festival is observed during the month of Bhadraba (August-September) on Sundays after the Gahma Purnima.
Like on Gahma Purnima when girls tie rakhi or a thread on the wrist of their brothers, praying for their longevity, good health and prosperity, during the Khudurukani festival, girls worship Goddess Mangala for good health and prosperity of their brothers. This tradition of celebrating the festival speaks volume of the sanctity and beauty of the relationship between brothers and sisters.
Young girls get up early in the morning and collect flowers. Then they go to a nearby river, take bath and make small mounds of sand on the river bank. Then they offer prayer to the Sun God and apply turmeric and sindur on the mound and worship with flowers including some vegetable flowers like the flowers of ridge gourd flowers.
The main puja is observed in the evening. The idol of the goddess is installed in a house and all the girls gather there and worship the deity. The main offerings are khuda (broken rice), Ukhuda, Chuda, Khai, cucumber, coconut and jiggery. Later, they partake in prasad.
The portmanteau of Khudurukani is Khuda and Rankuni. This means one who is eager to have Khuda or broken rice.
It is said that Tapoi survived only on Khuda during the time when her seven sailor brothers were away.
Here is the legend:
Tapoi’s family was a rich sailor family. She was the youngest sister of seven brothers and thus, the apple of her brothers’ eyes. They loved her so much that they would fulfill her wishes in no time. Once she asked for a golden moon, a moon-shaped ornament made of gold. By the time her wish was fulfilled, her parents died and the financial condition of the family worsened.
Then the time of going on sea voyage arrived. All the seven brothers went out, cautioning their respective wives against harassing their sister.
On the contrary, influenced by a Brahmin widow, Tapoi’s sisters-in-law started torturing her. With no option left, she waited for the return of her brothers patiently.
One day while wandering she came across some girls who were worshiping Goddess Mangala. Seeing her sorrow, the girls advised her to worship Goddess Mangala for the early and safe return of her brothers. They also advised her to observe fasting on Sundays.
Tapoi did as she was asked to do. However, since she didn’t have anything to offer the Goddess, she would only offer khuda (broken rice) to Her.
Goddess Mangala heard her prayers and her brothers returned soon. After hearing the plight of their sister, they decided to teach their wives a lesson. They decorated Tapoi as a goddess and asked their wives to seek blessings from the deity. As they came to Tapoi one by one, she took her revenge and cut the noses of all her sisters-in-law except the youngest one.