Prathamastami is on Friday
Prathamastami is a popular festival celebrated in Orissa in the month of Margasira, which coincides with the Gregorian months of November and December. During the festival, the eldest child of the family is honored by offering prayers to goddess Sasthi for his or her safety and well-being. The child is treated like royalty, given new clothes and made to sit on a wooden platform where most of the rituals are conducted. In 2012, the festival will be celebrated on 7th December, Friday.
It is an occasion to perform puja for the well-being of the first child in the family. A delicacy called Haladi Patra Enduri Pitha (idlis filled with sweet stuffing and wrapped in green leaves of turmeric plant before being steamed) is the specialty of the day.
In the temple of Lingaraja at Bhubaneswar , the festival is observed with great devotion. On this day the representative deity of Lingaraja is taken out in a palanquin to a tank called “Papanasini”, which is situated just behind the temple.
This festival is celebrated for the well being of the first born in the family. The celebration falls on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the lunar month of Margashira. Oblations are offered to God Ganapathi to protect the child against all hurdles in life. The child is given a new dress, feasted and blessed by the parents and other elders and friends.
Prathamastami is a rite, held in Odisha, for the life and prosperity of the eldest child who is offered a lighted lamp ovation by the senior female relatives followed by elaborate rituals during which the Mantras are recited.
The celebration falls on the dark half eighth day, Ashtami of the month of Margashirsha according to the calendar followed in North India, occurring after the eight day of Kartik Purnima. The ritual involves Aarathi of the eldest child by mother and relatives in which the maternal uncle sends the items necessary for the ritual, and Ganesha, Shashti devi and the family deity are worshipped.
The main delicacy of the day is Enduri Pitha.
