Sitalsasthi 2012

Following graphic is from the Sambad:

Odisha govt. suppressing Kosli language and culture

Following report is from the Pioneer:

There is a deliberate attempt by the Government of Odisha to suppress the Kosli language and culture, alleged Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) working president Baidyanath Mishra at a Press conference here on Wednesday.

He said teachers and para-teachers are being recruited to appease the minor ethic groups, including Bengali and Telugu, in the State whereas Kosli spoken by almost one and a half crore people is neither given official status nor is any step being taken for its growth due to a high degree of inferiority complex on the Government’s part.

Mishra said thousand of books in Kosli using Odia script have been published in different branches of Kosli literature, but the Government does not have any affirmative stance for promoting the rich literature. This “step-motherly attitude” towards Kosli, coupled with acute regional imbalance and other parochial considerations, has led to discontentment among the people concerned and a strong opinion to split the State.

“The recent activities of the Government and some NGOs have posed a threat to Kosli language and culture,” he alleged and called upon the people of ‘Kosalanchal’ to remain alert. The strategy of “Utkalisation of the Kosal areas” is a calculated one, but the Government has not been successful in the past nor would it be successful in future because of its ill motive as negative action would only bring negative result, he remarked.

Mishra was launching Kosli No-1, a music album brought out by Karan Raj and his young team. Congratulating all those involved in the project, he advised them to adopt the twin strategy of promotion and safeguard for their language and culture.

Editor of Paschimanchala Surama Mishra was the guest of honour on the occasion. Sagar Singh Manki, Ram Chandra Amat, Jai Singh Singh and Hrudanand Behera were among others present.

Sital Sasthi Jatra of Sambalpur – the divine wedding of lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi

Following write-up is taken from http://www.hindu-blog.com:

he annual Sital Sasthi Yatra festival held at Sambalpur in Orissa celebrates the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Sambalpur in Orissa is a well known place associated with Shiva and Shakti worship. The five-day long festival begins with the ‘Patra pendi’ ritual. In 2009, the Sital Sasthi Yatra festival begins on May 28.

Lord Shiva after the death of Goddess Sati was practicing intense austerity and was no longer interested in family life. Taking this as an opportunity, demon Tarakasura prayed to Lord Brahma and obtained the boon that he will only be killed by a son of Lord Shiva. After obtaining the boon Tarakasura created havoc on earth, heaven and hell and he drove out the ‘devas’ from heaven.

Devas approached Vishnu but he told them about the boon and asked to approach Mother Shakti to find a way out. Shakti agreed to take rebirth as Parvathi and marry Shiva.

But Shiva continued with his intense austerities. Pravathi who was born as the daughter of Himalaya only had Shiva in her mind and wanted to marry him. But Shiva was not willing to take her as his wife. Devas tried several methods but could not change the mind of Shiva.

Finally, Parvati started intense meditation and Shiva had to finally oblige. (This intense fast undertaken by Parvati is annually observed as Hartalika Teej Vrat in North India and Swarn Gouri Vratam in South India by women to get good husbands.)

On Jyeshta Shukla Panchami, the divine couple got married and Kartikeya was born who annihilated demon Tarakasura.

Sital Sasthi Yatra festival celebrates this divine wedding. During the festival, a family in the region adorns the role of the father and mother of Parvati and offers her in marriage to Shiva.

On Patra Pendi day, the first day of the festival, the family adopts Parvati as their daughter. Two days later Goddess Parvati (idol from the temple) arrives at the home of her adopted parents. From her adopted home, the bride is taken in a grand procession for the marriage ceremony, which takes place during the night.

Similarly, Lord Shiva, the bridegroom, arrives for the marriage ceremony along with other gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon. Lord Hanuman and Narasimha lead the divine procession. All the rituals that are part of normal marriage ceremony in Orissa are followed for the divine wedding.

Next evening the divine couple undertakes a journey to the town known as Nagar Parikrama and this journey is known as ‘Shital Sasthi Yatra.’

Another feature of the festival is the arrival of large number of Eunuchs or Hijadas for the wedding. They claim that they are her to celebrate the wedding of Shiva who is ardhanarishwara – half man half woman.

The festival is also referred as monsoon wedding of Shiva and Parvathi as the wedding takes place at the beginning of monsoon season. The intense austerity performed by Shiva is symbolically represented as the intense heat during summer season. Parvathi is the monsoon showers which calm Shiva. Farmers thus celebrate the arrival of monsoon with this divine wedding.

Preparations for Sital Sasthi Jatra begin in Shivalayas of Sambalpur town

Following report is from expressbuzz.com:

SAMBALPUR: Preparation for the Sital Sasthi yatra began on the auspicious Akshaya Trutiya today with the completion of ‘Thala Utha’ ritual in Shivalayas of Sambalpur town. The Sital Sasthi yatra is celebrated to mark the celestial wedding ceremony of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati slated to be held on June 16 this year. 

The ritual was performed with much fanfare in three Shivalayas _ Loknath Baba of Jharuapada, Balunkeshwar Baba of Nandapada and Jageswar Baba of Mudipada.  

During the ‘Thala Utha’ ceremony, puja was performed in the temples amid presence of senior members of the respective localities. The ceremony also marked beginning of fund raising for the forthcoming festival with senior members of the three localities going from door to door in their respective areas for collection of funds.  

This year, Prahallad Agrawal and his wife Suman of Marwaripada, Sisir Kumar Nanda and his wife Pushpanjali of Nandapada and Akshay Kumar Dora and his wife Laxmipriya will perform the role of in-laws for Loknath Baba, Balunkeswar Baba and Jageswar Baba respectively.

Sital Sasthi Jatra of Sambalpur, Koshal region