Bhubaneswar: Gamha Purnima is the traditional Odia festival that marks the birth anniversary of Lord Balabhadra, the elder brother of Lord Jagannath. The day also coincides with Rakhi Purnima, where siblings tie protective threads and celebrate mutual love.
On Shravana Purnima Tithi i.e. the full moon day of Shrabana (July-August) otherwise known as the Jhulana Purnima or Gamha Purnima, the birthday of Lord Balabhadra is celebrated across Odisha.
“Gamha” comes from the Sanskrit word for cow. Farmers bathe, decorate, and worship cows and bullocks because Lord Balabhadra, the God of agriculture and strength, is deeply fond of cattle and carries a plough (haladhara).
As part of the cattle worship rituals, special baby clay idols of Lord Balabhadra are created near sacred sites like the Markandeshwar Pond in Puri to perform his birth rituals (Janma Niti). In rural regions of Paralakhemundi and Nayagada, young people celebrate with high-jumping athletic games over traditional mud platforms known as ‘Gamha-Diyan’ to catch tied fruits and win prizes.
Raksha Bandhan:
Raksha Bandhan, (the bond of protection) or Rakhi is a Hindu festival primarily observed in India, Mauritius and Nepal, which celebrates the relationship between brothers (shaurya), cousins and sisters (shreya). It is also called Rakhi Purnima in most of India. It is also celebrated in some parts of Pakistan. The festival is observed by Hindus, and some Sikhs. Throughout India, this day is beloved as Raksha Bandhan, a celebration which celebrates the divine bond of brothers and sisters.
Preparations are in full swing at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri as servitors gear up to offer massive, sacred “Pata Rakhis” to Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra. As part of the grand centuries-old rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum, Goddess Subhadra will tie massive, sacred “Pata Rakhis” onto the wrists of her divine brothers.
Crafted meticulously by the hereditary Patara Bisoi servitors, the giant rakhis measure around two feet in diameter and feature specially woven thread bands spanning 10 to 12 feet long. The intricate process relies on age-old traditional techniques where “Basunga” silk cloth, provided by the temple administration, is dyed in vibrant natural shades of red, yellow, blue, and violet, sun-dried, and then shredded using specialised combs before being arranged into a distinct five-layer circular structure.
Alongside the sacred threads, the deities on the Ratnabedi will be adorned in opulent gold ornaments and the Lords offered 54 traditional “Guamala” garlands made from intact areca nuts. The servitors prepare Guamala in yellow and red colour combination for Lord Jagannath and purple and blue colour combination for Lord Balabhadra.
Later, Lord Sudarshan proceeds to Markand Pond in ‘chaudola’ decorated with golden garlands, where Sudha Suara observe some traditions by making the idol of Lord Balabhadra with wet clay. They spew life into the idol by chanting mantras and then offer ‘bhog’. The idol is later immersed in the pond. Following this, Lord Sudarshan proceeds to three Ashrams and returns to 12th-century shrine late in the night.
Jagannath culture researchers emphasise that these sacred rites, deeply rooted in the state’s cultural fabric, go beyond temple ritualism to symbolise the universal, sacred bond between siblings, radiating a timeless message of love, duty, and spiritual protection.