Prathamastami: Odisha’s age-old festival celebrating firstborns and family bonds

Prathamastami is one of the important festivals in Odisha, the land of festivals. This festival is observed on the eighth day of Krushna Paksha of Margashira month, according to the Odia almanac. Today, the festival is being observed with pomp and enthusiasm across the state. 

Prathamastami is a combination of two words- prathama, which means the first, and astami, which means the eighth day. On this day, the firstborn child of a family, who is called ‘Padhuan’, is worshipped. Prayer is offered for his/her long life and prosperity.

Prathamastami - The Rich Tradition

As per tradition, the maternal uncle plays a special role on Prathamastami by gifting the firstborn child new clothes and sweets. The child, known as Padhuan, wears the new attire and is offered a variety of pancakes and delicacies, with the ‘Enduri Pitha’ being the most cherished among them.

In rural Odisha, the festival continues to be celebrated with its age-old charm. From early morning, the air in villages is filled with the aroma of freshly made sweets and pancakes, dominated by the soothing scent of turmeric leaves, used in preparing the traditional Enduri Pitha.

To make this delicacy, a thick batter of rice and urad dal is spread on a turmeric leaf and filled with a sweet mixture of jaggery, grated coconut, cottage cheese, and cardamom powder. The leaf is then folded and steamed until the rice cake is cooked to perfection. It is believed that the medicinal properties of turmeric are absorbed during steaming, and since no oil is used, the dish is considered both healthy and wholesome.

You May Like: Emotional scene at Puri Srimandir: Helpless father pleads before Lord Jagannath holding ailing son

Prathamastami At Puri Srimandir & Lingaraj Temple

Prathamastami is also celebrated with devotion at Srimandir in Puri, where Madhabananda Jew of Niali in Cuttack, revered as the maternal uncle of Lord Jagannath, sends ritual offerings such as Khandua (new clothes) and sweets to the temple. On this day, Enduri Pitha is served as breakfast to Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

The festival also holds great significance in Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar. On this day, Lord Chandrasekhar, the representative idol of Lord Lingaraj, is taken out in a beautifully decorated palanquin to Kapalimatha, considered his maternal uncle’s abode. On the way, the deity visits the sacred Papanasini tank before being welcomed by Lord Baruneswar and Goddess Banadevi, the divine uncle and aunt.

According to folklore, Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram, dressed in new clothes, visited their maternal uncle King Kansa on this very day and were received with great honour.

For farmers, Prathamastami is equally significant. They worship the new crops and Goddess Lakshmi, seeking blessings for a prosperous harvest, and express gratitude for their firstborns who assist them in agricultural work.