Bhubaneswar: Across the land of Lord Jagannath, Deepabali, the Festival of Lights, is being celebrated with immense cultural and religious fervor, distinguished by Odisha’s unique traditions that honor both the divine and the departed. While the state joins the nation in illuminating homes and worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, a centuries-old ritual, the ‘Bada Badua Daka’, remains the poignant heart of the celebration.
The air is thick with devotion as families across the state, and most profoundly in Puri before the majestic Jagannath Temple, observe the Bada Badua Daka ceremony.
This sacred invocation sees family members gathering after dusk, holding aloft bundles of ‘Kaunria Kathi’ (jute sticks) lit from an earthen lamp. Pointing the flickering flame skyward, they chant the ancient mantra: “Bada Badua Ho, Andhaara Re Aasa, Alua Re Jaa.” (Oh ancestors, come from darkness, go towards the light.)
This powerful ritual is a solemn act of remembrance, seeking to guide the spirits of forefathers and ancestors from the shadowy Pitru Lok to the celestial light, thus ensuring their blessings for the living family.
The practice, believed to have roots dating back to the era of the Sadhabas (ancient Odia sea traders) or the Bhakti movement, showcases the deep-seated respect for lineage and heritage in Odia culture.
Simultaneously, the main day of Deepabali is marked by the worship of Goddesses. Like its eastern counterpart, West Bengal, Odisha celebrates Kali Puja (Shyama Puja), particularly in cities like Cuttack and Bhadrak, where elaborate, mesmerizing pandals are erected to honor the fierce form of the Divine Mother, the destroyer of evil. Devotees offer special prayers, seeking protection and the removal of darkness from their lives.
In a parallel act of devotion, Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped. Homes are meticulously cleaned and decorated with intricate ‘rangolis’ and rows of traditional earthen ‘diyas’ (oil lamps) to welcome the goddess, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
The entire state is a spectacle of light, with markets bustling, families exchanging traditional sweets and gifts, and a spirit of togetherness pervading the atmosphere, making Odisha’s Deepabali a beautiful, multi-layered celebration of light, life, and legacy.
The Governor of Odisha also encouraged citizens to celebrate an eco-friendly festival by using locally made earthen diyas, promoting the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative and sustaining the traditional pottery profession.