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Odisha celebrates a plethora of festivals, each having a unique story of its own. One such crucial festival is Khudurukuni Osa, also known as Bhalukuni Osa in some parts of the state. Khudurukuni Osa is mainly observed in the coastal districts of Odisha, and the celebration is just one day but prolonged to over several weeks. It falls in the Hindu month of Bhadraba, the Sunday after Gamha Purnima(Rakhi Purnima). The festival is observed every Sunday for about a month. Maa Mangala, a manifestation of Shakti, is worshipped by young, unmarried girls on this day. Even if Maa Mangala fulfills every wish, girls primarily observe this osa for the well-being of their brothers. Like Gamha Purnima, the main aim of this osa is to beautify the relationship between brothers and sisters. Brothers protect their sisters from all worldly danger, and their sisters pray for their well-being in return.
Even if the way of observing the fast has changed quite a bit in modern times, the zeal and devotion are still the same. The festivity starts the previous night when the area where Maa Mangala’s idol is to be kept is thoroughly cleaned, and “Jhoti” “Chita” is drawn. Young girls wake up early in the morning, even before sunrise, and have a bath. Then they collect many flowers, make small mounts of sand known as “Baluka,” and worship it. They apply turmeric water, vermillion, flowers, agarbatti. Then they pray to Sun God. After this, they start to make garlands by stitching all the flowers together. Mandara Phula (hibiscus) is considered Maa Mangala’s favorite flower and is given utmost importance.
It is important to note that this festival is done alone but in groups. All the unmarried girls from a neighborhood gather together in a familiar place, popularly called “Puja Kothi”. Goddess Mangala is not worshipped alone but in two types; a painting called “Patti” and the idol of Bhalukuni. This is a way of teaching the essence of teamwork to the girls. After the morning puja, the girls return home and have a light, vegetarian food free of onion and garlic. Mainly, on this day, Ruti, Paratha, Puri, Chakuli Pitha, Dalma, Simei, Kheeri, Alu Tarkari are eaten.
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Just as dusk falls, the preparations for evening puja start. Kadali (Banana), Kakudi (Cucumber), Seu (Apple), Mitha (Sweets), Ukhuda, Khai, Rasi Ladu are offered to Maa Mangala. At the end of the puja, all these are smashed together and consumed as bhoga. In the evening puja, reading the legend of Tapoi is of utmost importance and is a primary part of the celebration. Girls sing the story in sync with the sounds of “Hulahuli” and “Ghanta” playing in the background. On every Sunday, the same ritual is done. However, on the last Sunday, the same thing is done but in an elegant way.
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The legend of Tapoi is an essential and very heart-wrenching story. Once upon a time, there was a Sadhaba( a wealthy trader). He has seven sons and one daughter, Taapoi, who was the youngest. Being the youngest, Taapoi was pampered a lot by her father, mother, brothers, and sister-in-laws. One day when Taapoi was playing with her friends, an evil Brahmin widow came and instigated her to play with a suna chanda, a moon made of gold. Taapoi went back to her house and refused to talk to anyone. Her youngest sister-in-law was her favorite, and she convinced her to quit anger. Taapoi’s parents agreed to fulfill their daughter’s request. However, when the chanda was half-constructed, her father died, and her mother died at the end of the construction. Soon, times changed, and the family’s financial condition started to worsen. Therefore, the brothers decided to go on a voyage. They ordered their wives to take care of their sister. Everything was going well when suddenly the evil widow again made an appearance. The widow instigated all the sister-in-laws to ill-treat Taapoi and not to pamper her.
Everyone got convinced except the youngest sister-in-law. But, being the youngest, she had no power. Taapoi was just given broken rice and salt to eat and was made to care for a herd of goats. One rainy day, one goat got lost. Taapoi, scared of her eldest sister-in-law’s wrath, decided to search for the goat. She came across a Kothi where few girls were doing Khudurukuni Osa. Taapoi joined them, and on her way back, she found her lost goat. Taapoi became immensely happy, and she decided to observe the Osa with complete dedication. After the last pali, she was sobbing alone in the forest when she saw her seven brothers. The brothers were devastated to see their sister’s condition. They gave her a new saree to wear and all the gold jewelry that they had brought. They gave her a knife and instructed Taapoi to cut the nose of those who tortured her. Taapoi cut her sister-in-law's nose, except the youngest’s.
The story preaches that good is always rewarded and evil is punished. Therefore every Odia girl, except Brahmin girls, observes this osa with complete dedication. Even girls who don’t have any brothers follow this osa to fulfill their wishes. The Osa has a socio-cultural link, and not even modernization has been able to hamper it. The Osa is abundantly followed in rural and urban areas.
