Kumara Purnima

About Kumara Purnima 2025

When is Kumar Purnima(कुमार पूर्णिमा)?

Sharad Purnima is called Kumara Purnima in Odisha. On the day, it is celebrated as the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This day is known as Kumara Purnima a regional traditional festival, on the day young girls are in Odisha perform traditional rituals with the belief of getting the ideal life partner and happy life.  some people say Sharada Purnima also known as Rasha Purnima. 

The Significance of Sharad Purnima

Sharad Purnima(शरद पूर्णिमा) or Kumar Purnima is mainly dedicated to all the unmarried girls. Lakshmi Puja represents a new beginning for devotees of the goddess and on the eve of the festival, devotees light their homes with earthen lamps and leave their doors and windows open to invite her.

Apart from this, farmers worship Goddess Lakshmi on this day for good harvest in courtyard and farms. Devotees worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi on the day of Sharad Purnima and unmarried girls in different parts of the state in Odisha observe fast on this day to please Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi to get the prosperity and their blessings in the life.

Rituals of Kumara Purnima in Odisha

There are seven rituals followed during the Kumara Purnima. You should know about the seven important rituals and traditional things about it.

For this fast, girls worship Tulsi(Basil) Plant called “Chaura” every day for 21 days, which is known as "Janhi Osa" in Odisha. In these days, both in the morning and evening, girls pray to Goddess Bhagwati with palm of flower in their hand near Tulsi plant.

Girls are Worship Vrat called Janhi Osa

Girls of Odisha observe this fast with great reverence and devotion. Many rituals have to be followed during this fast. The girls wake up long before sunrise, take bath and get ready to perform 'Janhi Osa(ଜନ୍ହି ଓସା)', where they offer a palmful offering to the Sun God with 'Janhi flower' i.e. the flower of striped gourd or called “Tohri” flower, cucumber flower, banana, coconut, betel nut, take in a palm etc., which is known as 'Anjuli'. They also light up a ghee lamp and perform puja to pay homage to the almighty for a suitable groom. The same ritual is also performed in the evening.

Girls Observe this fast for a Handsome & Caring Husband

Lord Kumar Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, was very handsome because he was unmarried and very young as well as dynamic, courageous by nature. Though, he is not married, he is called as Kumar, and he was the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom of the heaven. Therefore, young women celebrate this festival and perform rituals wishing for a husband as handsome as them.

Rituals During the Kumar Purnima

After 21 days of worship, the final puja is done on the full moon day. Which is known as Sharad Purnima or Kumar Purnima. The full moon is the centre of attraction in this festival. Girls wake up in early morning called Bramha Muhurta and pluck flowers, then take bath and wear new clothes. After wearing it, she picks up 'Chanda Chakta'(चांद चकटा) in her palm and worships the moon.

Moon is also synonymous with a handsome husband which girls want for themselves. First, they offer it to the moon, then after eating half of it, they throw the other half in such a place that no one is watching.

There is also a Tradition of 'Puchchi Khela'(पुच्ची खेल) on the day of Kumar Purnima. This is a special game of Kumar Purnima. It is played in a sitting posture, in which the person's weight is rapidly transferred and balanced from one leg to the other. 'Puchi' competitions are organized in villages in the moonlight nights. This game is only for girls and this 'Puchi' competitions are organized for girls in schools, colonies areas. Along with this, other games are also performed like 'Bohu-Bohuka', ‘Luka-Chhupi’, etc. are played and the girls make a group and all come together at one place, then sing the traditional song given below by looking at the full moon.

Delicious 'Chand Chakta (ଚାନ୍ଦ ଚକଟା)' is the main Attraction of the Fast.

'Chanda Chakta' is a delicious dish made with 'Khai', jaggery, banana, coconut, ginger, sugarcane, tala saja, cucumber, ghee, honey and milk and is offered as a special “Naivedya” to the moon, in a half-moon shaped plate. After that the girls ate half and threw the other half away. The remaining naivedya or prasad is also distributed among the children and neighbours.

Kumar Utsav Purnima is celebrated across Odisha

Kumar Utsav(କୁମାର ଉତ୍ସବ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା) is celebrated across Odisha to commemorate Kumar Purnima. It’s basically a odia festival. Dance and music performances are organized throughout the state. An Odissi regional song, which is a very popular folk song in Odisha, is like this:

Kumara Purnima Traditional Folk Song (କୁମାର ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଲୋକଗୀତ)

Kunara punei janha go, phula baula beni । Kunari mane ki puchi kheluchhanti, paunji shabada suna go Phula baula beni ॥

Pahada mule gayisa go, phula baula beni । ahuri bohunku sundara disai, mastakre matha mani go Phula baula beni ॥

Megha tale thaaye kala go, phula baula beni । Krushna jetebele pahandi huanti, aagare udai dola go Phula baula beni ॥

Karamanga gachha chhai go, phula baula beni । kunari mananka apurva ananda, puchi khelibaku mana go Phula baula beni ॥

Janha pade banka bnka go, phula baula beni । Ahuri bohunku sundara dishai, kailasha pura shnkha go Phula baula beni ॥

Garbhana gachhara chhai go, phula baula beni । Kansha mamu garbhe duta pesuthila, bhanaja bhaneji pain go Phula baula beni ॥

Kakudi latara chhai go, phula baula beni । Rati adhe krushna janama hoile , kunan kunan raba dei go Phula baula beni ॥

Sunari gacchara chhai go, phula baula beni । Sunasha mukaare nahi kata hela, bandi shala ghare thai go Phula baula beni ॥

Rangani gachhara chhai go, phula baula beni । Devaki garabha sunya achhi gopi luchi chhi rohini gayi go Phula baula beni ॥

Muchukunda gachha chhai go. phula baula beni । Chhanda kari nei nanda ghare thoi kanya ana palatai go Phula baula beni ॥

Jashoda dhana shankhali go phula baula beni । Kete kautuka gopa katakre karuchhanti banamaali go Phula baula beni ॥

Shapta barashe giri go phula baula beni । Teki nija kare dhari baru gote Naama hela giridhara go phula baula beni ॥

Dekha ta sundara pana ku, phula baula beni । Kete je sundara hoi nathibeki, koti juhara ta gunaku Phula baula beni ॥