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Fervour marks Gamha Purnima

BERHAMPUR: Cattle were worshipped with traditional fervour during ‘Gamha Purnami’ celebrations on Tuesday. While rest of the country celebrates the full moon day as day of ‘Rakshya Bandhan’ people celebrate the day as ‘Gamha Purnima’ as homage to the cattle that are important part of their agrarian life.

This day is considered the birthday of Lord Balaram by the Oriyas who is always related to agriculture. Cows and bullocks were worshipped, fed with traditional delicacies and tied with colourful rachis by their owners.

In the city many Telugu families owning cattle also took part in this traditional celebration ‘Gamha Purnima’ by Oriyas. Usually Telugu cattle owners worship their cattle in the month of Kartik.

As part of this celebration ‘Gamha Dian’ was also organised at different streets of the city for children as well as youths. Children and youths taking part in ‘Gamha Diyan’ run and jump over a makeshift ramp to grab fruits and other gifts hung to a rope at a height. At Krishna temples of the city, devotees offered rakhi to the deity. At the Berhampur circle jail sisters of inmates had reached the jail gates at early morning to tie rakhi on the hands of their brothers. The jail authorities had made special arrangements to allow prisoners to celebrate ‘rakshya bandhan’ with their sisters. Members of social organizations visited schools physically challenged and old age homes to celebrate rakshya bandhan. It was hey day for the special shops selling ‘rakhis’ and the sweet shops in the city.

KORAPUT: Rakshya Bandhan was celebrated by Gayatri Parivar on the premises of Jagannath temple on Tuesday with children from different schools tying the band of love and affection among themselves. Taraparasad Bahinipati, MLA, was the chief guest.

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