Bhubaneswar: The firstborn or the eldest child in every Odia household is being honoured as Odisha celebrates the unique festival Prathamastami today.
On the occasion, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also extended his greetings on Twitter.
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Naveen Patnaik✔@Naveen_Odisha
ପବିତ୍ର ପ୍ରଥମାଷ୍ଟମୀ ଅବସରରେ ପରିବାରର ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ସନ୍ତାନମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କର ସୁଖମୟ ଜୀବନ ଏବଂ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି କାମନା କରୁଛି। #Prathamastami
Prathamastami religious traditions prescribe maternal uncles to present new cloths to their nephews on ‘Prathamastami’ day every year.
As per the customs, the eldest sibling of the family is pampered with delicacies and new clothes on this day. Mothers, pray for the well-being and long life of the firstborn child who is considered to be the flag bearer of the family’s tradition and values.
The remarkable offering of Prathamastami is Haladipatra Pitha. The sweetmeat made with rice batter is wrapped in fresh and seasonal turmeric leaves and filled with grated coconut and jaggery.
On this day, Lord Lingaraj emerges from his sanctum sanctorum in a palanquin to visit a tank called Papanasini on his way to Kapalimatha, his maternal uncle’s house.
The presiding deities of this matha Lord Baruneswar and Goddess Banadevi are the maternal uncle and aunt of Lord Lingaraj. And the firstborn gets honoured – in a second birthday style.
Prasanta Patnaik