BUDHEI OSA IN ODIA CULTURE

Sanjay Bhatt 

Budhei Osa, also known as Budhi Baman Osa, is a cherished festival deeply rooted in the tradition of Odisha, celebrated with reverence and devotion during the auspicious month of Bhadrava (September). This festival holds a special place in the hearts of married women, who observe it with the hope of being blessed with children or ensuring the long, healthy lives of their offspring.Budhei Osha is celebrated on every Wednesday in the month of Bhadrava ( September).

The celebration of Budhei Osa is not confined to a single day; it extends over four to five days, depending on the customs followed by different families. Some devotees begin the observance from Bhadrava Sankranti to Ashwina Sankranti, while others mark it from Gamha Poornima to Indu Poornima. Regardless of the timeline, the essence of the festival remains a solemn and heartfelt plea to the divine for the well-being of children.

Goddess Budhei, revered as the mother of Goddess Vimala, is the focal point of the festival. Vimala, the goddess associated with the loom, is also intrinsically connected to the rituals at the Shree Jagannath Temple, where the food offerings placed before her are transformed into the sanctified Maha Prasad. In the broader context of spiritual symbolism, Mother Vimala is worshipped as Buddha, and Lord Jagannath is venerated as Baman, linking the festival to profound religious narratives.

One of the unique aspects of Budhei Osa is the worship of the sila (grinding stone) and silapua (grinding stone bar) as the physical representations of the goddess. These humble household tools, integral to the daily lives of Odia families, are elevated to the status of divine idols during the festival.

The rituals begin on Wednesday morning, a day dedicated to the planet Mercury, with the purification of the house of worship using cow dung (gomaya). Devotees then prepare the worship space, gathering essential items such as turmeric paste, lamps, incense, and a pitcher for the ritual. The sila and silapua are meticulously cleansed with turmeric water and Ganga water, and are then placed on a wooden pedestal.

In an artistic ritual, the turmeric paste, mixed with the contributions of all the devotees, is used to create the symbolic hands, feet, face, eyes, and ears of the goddess on the grinding stone. The idol is then adorned with garlands of sea stones, nuts, and ornaments, bringing the divine image to life. The son, symbolically represented by the grinding stone, is similarly decorated, signifying the close bond between the worshippers and the divine.

The culmination of the ritual involves the offering of nuts, coconuts, incense, lamps, and flowers to the goddess, followed by the sacred aarti performed with a coil of rope and camphor. The spiritual atmosphere is further enriched by the recitation of the Budha Baman book, a special text for this festival, containing five chapters and 134 verses that narrate five folk tales. This recitation is believed to invoke the blessings of the goddess and ensure the fulfillment of the devotees' prayers.

Throughout the festival, offerings are made  with fruits presented on each  Wednesday  days and a grand feast of cooked vegetables, cakes, and pies on the concluding day means  last Wednesday of September.This practice not only honors the goddess but also fosters a sense of community and shared devotion among the participants.

Budhei Osa is more than a mere festival; it is a profound expression of faith, tradition, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and their children, sanctified by the blessings of Goddess Budhei.