Saturday, October 3, 2009

Kumar Purnima festival


The Kumar Purnima festival of Orissa is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Aswina.
In some parts of the state, girls fast all day and eat after doing puja to the Moon. The custom says that praying to the Moon gets you as handsome a husband as the Moon. Most girls wait for an early glimpse of the moon and the earlier you do the puja the younger and handsomer the husband.

My mother-in-law reminds me every year to do this puja for my daughter. While my Mom was not so stringent about it and I didn't really do it most years (well it helped to be away in hostel too), I try doing it for my daughter. So no fasting for her, just the puja.... Hmmm I didn't even get to do it early enough - but atleast these are my attempts at teaching her some of our customs.

The bhoga is usually done with Paneer and banana mashed together and made into balls. I added some honey and crushed cardamom powder...

Happy Purnima everyone!

52 comments:

  1. It is called ashwin poornima or the kojagiri purnima. The milk is boiled under the moon.
    The eldest son, daughter is gifted white clothes. I used to get them in my chilhood....
    Good, so your daughter will get a handsome husband!

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  2. Happy Purnima to you! Bhoga looks easy to make and attractive!

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  3. Oh wow - so you celebrate it too!
    Kojagiri - oh my friend makes the best basundhi on that day too...

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  4. Nandini - yes it is the custom that I wanted to highlight. The bhoga is real simple...

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  5. It was Laxmi Puja for Bengalis and also known as Kaojagori. My wife was busy doing some Puja and " Patha" and had to wait for the prasad (NaDia Kora and all). I will tell both my big daughters to fast from next year...
    God bless you and give you every thing you want and forever

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  6. It's a new festival to me interesting. thank youso much for haring it. nice yummy bhoga.

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  7. nice to know about ur tradition. Happy purnima to u.

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  8. This is the first time I'm visiting your blogspot. Happy Kumar Purnima. Being a Bengali we celebrate this day as Kojagori Lakshmi Puja. Luchi and a mixed vegetable curry was my mother's speciality the taste of which I miss very much.
    Liked your easy bhog preparation.

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  9. Thank you for sharing this with us! It is always fun to learn about other cultures and customs. Combining paneer and banana is very creative. Bet it was tasty!

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  10. Never heard of this festival,thanx for sharing

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  11. Nice details about the festival Somoo... never heard about it... thanks for sharing and paneer and banana combination looks yummy

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  12. What a cute custom ! Do I have to be from Orissa to try it out on my girls ; ) ? ... I understand what you mean though about passing on tradition, I too think it is very important when raising children in a culture different to our own heritage. The statue's of God Ghanesh look beautiful...& the picture is artistic !

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  13. Loved reading and nice to know about this kumar purnima festival...Happy purnima to u..

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  14. Ushnish - I have heard of Kojagiri too... Yumm Nadia Kora... and thanks for the wishes
    Sushma - thanks
    Rekha - yep I wanted to share this unqie festival... thanks
    jeyashri - thanks
    Gouri - welcome. I love Luchi too.. These unique memories are precious...
    Palidor - glad you liked it
    Varunavi - I know Oriya customs are not too popular, hence I am here...
    Padma - thanks. The paneer banana combination works, my daughter eats it too...
    Nat - it is just a custom. I dont really believe in it too, but the customs tie us to the roots...
    Priya - thanks. same to you...

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  15. Kumar puneyi .. I remember my friends' "chaanda bandeyiba" on their terraces. And their excitement for new dresses. :-) Good you are keeping a log of all these things Somoo ... your kiddos will be happy for this one day. :-)

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  16. And oh ... didn't the paneer mash have some "khai" or "ukhuda" in it ... or am I confusing it with something else? I liked it a lot. :-)

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  17. Wish u Happy poornima!!that was awesome read and great to know about kumar purnima festival...

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  18. Nice and informative post, bhoga looks delicious.

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  19. Sharmila - Ukhuda for kumar purnami , not sure... Will check with my mom or mil... I remember some particular flower had to be used too...
    Sangeetha - glad you liked it. I am doing my lil bit to keep the traditions here
    A2z - glad you liked it...

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  20. ?Nice to hear abt the Kumar Purnima featival and a nice click..yummy looking bhoga..

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  21. Wish you a very Happy Purnima. Bhoga looks delicious and yummy and also easy to prepare.

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  22. Wish you a very Happy purnima. Nice and informative post too. Bhoga looks delicious.

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  23. well, i have never heard of this festival...hope u and ur family had loads of fun! Bhoga looks delicious and pretty easy to make. Shd try it sometime!

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  24. Sarah , Babli, Pavithra - thanks
    Preeti - yes it was loads of fun for my daughter... It is cute when a lil one is so excited about it...
    Pratibja, Sowmya - thanks

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  25. Happy poornima to u,bhoga is something new to me,sounds easy and yumm...

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  26. Happy purnima...
    Informative post!!!

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  27. hey Somoo, everything fine yaa....tx so much for the concern!!!! Was busy for a while and then became lazy to make any dish...! Will come back soon!

    That pic is very cute...happy purnima!!!

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  28. Happy purnima to you also.
    I think it is wonderful that you do this for your daughter.

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  29. Happy Purnima To you Somoo. Bhoga is new to me. Sounds delicious, will try soon.
    I have some awards to share with you. Please collect from my blog.

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  30. Probably a good way to show our culture.

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  31. Deesha, Vrinda and Sarah - thanks.
    Aruna - glad to hear that you are doing fine. Take your time with blogging - its after all a hobby only.
    Happy Cook - yep I hope she gets some of our culture...
    Raje - thanks so much for thinking of me. Really happy to get it.
    Cham, Gita - thanks.

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  32. Happy purnima. So you didnt fast for a handsome husband. And disproved the legend :0

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  33. Arent these customs great ? ha-ha - no comment!

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  34. i love to celebrate all festivals..but this is new to me.. :0 ....wonderful snap dear.. :)

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  35. It was nice to know more about oriya culture,.. Actually my hubby is born n brought up in orissa, :)
    and its so good that you are passing your culture to your daughter too..

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  36. These are such great traditions and I hope our kids can also follow these, Somoo...

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  37. Lwna - thanks. I love such cute traditions too...
    Neha - check with your hubby if he knows of it. Maybe not, since it is very girl specific...
    Shri - I agree. Lets see until when they agree to follow

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  38. happy purnima Somoo..diya bahut acha lag raha hai

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  39. Happy Purnima. Love these traditions very much.

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  40. Nice read up.. Happy purnima to u and ur family :)

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  41. These are great traditions...Nice read up..

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  42. Viki, Chitra and Sireesha - thanks... Glad you liked it...

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  43. Please come and collect your awards from my blog dear

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  44. Aysha thank you so much.... I am so honored...

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