Chitalagi Amavasya Chitou Amavasya 2023 Date
Chitalagi Amavasya was observed on 17th July 2023. Chitou Amavasya date is same. Odia Chitau Amavasya was celebrated in the holy town of Puri on Monday. It is a festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Odisha.
Puri Jagannath temple remains closed for 4 hours. In view of this ritual, the public darshan shall be prohibited from 2 pm to 6 pm, informed the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Sunday.
Chitalagi Amavasya is one such festival that falls on the new-moon day of the Sravana (August). On this day, in the temple of Jagannath, the deity bears a golden mark (Chita) on the forehead. A special variety of rice cakes known as Chitou Pitha is given to the deity as a food offering. This variety is also prepared in every household of the Odias of the coastal districts.
During Rath Yatra, the golden semblance on the forehead of Lords is taken out as they travel on the raths for nine days of visit to Gundicha temple but on this day the golden mark is again applied to the forehead of the Lords.
In rural areas, this is more or less observed as an agricultural festival. On this occasion, the farmers worship the paddy fields. After a purificatory bath in the morning, they go to their respective paddy fields with cake, flowers, milk, etc, and pray the fields to yield a good crop.
Chitau or Chitou or Chitalagi Amavasya is celebrated throughout the State in every Odia household.
