Raksha Bandhan and its significance in Odisha

Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival which celebrates the most special relationship on the earth, that is the bond between brothers and sisters. This festival falls on the full moon day of ‘Hindu month of Sharavana, mostly in August. 

The essence of the festival speaks volumes of the beauty of our Hindu tradition. On this day, a girl ties a thread to her brother’s wrist and prays for his well being, in turn, her brother offers her gifts and guarantees her safety.  

Girls start their preparations for this day well in advance. They go to market and buy rakhis of their choice. On Raksha Bandhan day, they and their brothers as well get up early in the morning, take bath and prepare for the moment. Girls apply tilak on the forehead of their brothers and then tie rakhis on their wrists. 

While the festival is also celebrated by brothers and sisters of distant relationships, several organisations are also observing this festival with their female members tying rakhis on the wrist of their male counterparts. 

In Odisha, the festival is important for another reason. This auspicious day is the birthday of Lord Jagannath’s elder brother Lord Balabhadra. This festival is also known as Gamha Purnima in Odisha. 

As a part of the birthday celebration, all six idols like Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, Lord Sudarshan, Bhudebi and Sridebi are decorated with gold ornaments. Certain specific rituals are performed in the temple. 

On this day, Devi Subhadra ties rakhis on the wrists of Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannath. These rakhis are generally made by a group of certain servitors known as Patara Bisoi. While the colours of Lord Jagannath’s rakhi are red and yellow, those of Lord Balabhadra’s rakhi are blue and violet. 

As Lord Balabhadra’s weapon is ‘Langala’ (wooden plough), which is the main instrument used in agricultural activities, the farming community too observes Gamha Purnima with a lot of enthusiasm. On this day, they worship the wooden plough. 

The day is also closely associated with our Martial tradition. On this day, Paikas would start their practice of new warfare as they would consider this day as most auspicious. 

In different parts of Odisha, particularly in southern districts the birthday of Lord Balabhadra is celebrated by organising a popular game known as Gamha-Diyan (The Gamha Jump), which also adds colour to the festival. 

Prior to the festival, the village youths collect donations from the villagers. On Gamha Purnima day, they build a platform with stones, sand, earth and straw. Then they fix two bamboo poles on the either sides of the platform. Thereafter, a rope is tied to the poles horizontally.

There are some gifts hung from the rope. The rule of the game is that a participant has to announce his favourite gift from one of the hanging ones. Then he starts running from a distance, runs on the raised platform and leaps into the air while trying to reach out to his announced gift.

If he manages to touch his gift, it is given to him. The whole village turns up and assembles at the place to enjoy and cheer up the village lads. 

However, ‘Gamha Dian’ is fast disappearing from village scenes thanks to the youngsters staying more and more with their mobile phones.