There’s an Odia proverb, “Bara Masare Tera Parba” (13 major festivals in 12 months of the Odia calendar).
One such tradition is Prathamastami, which fell this year on Tuesday, celebrates the firstborn child of every family. The first child is called “Podhuan”.
The maternal uncles of the Podhuans present them new clothes along with sweets and other delicacies. The family, especially mother, prays for the wellbeing and long life of the firstborn son or daughter as it is a belief that the first child becomes the flag-bearer of responsibilities in the family after the death of parents.
The tradition is to worship Goddess Sasthi Devi with Kalasa and other offerings to pray for the firstborn’s prosperity.
Prathamastami is celebrated on the eighth day of the month of Margasir dark fortnight. Enduri Pitha is made in the households to enjoy the occasion. Made with chhena (cottage cheese), jaggery and grated coconut stuffing, this is the only Odia dish prepared with turmeric leaf coating.
A pot, called the Athaara Handi, with its mouth tied with a cloth is mounted on the hearth, on which turmeric leaves containing elongated batter are filled with chenna, jaggery and grated coconut stuffing. It is covered to steam properly and get cooked before being served. The Enduri Pitha is identified by the quintessential aroma it emanates due to the usage of turmeric leaves.
Prathamastami is also known as Soubhagini Astami when farmers pay obeisance to Goddess Soubhagini for being blessed with children and abundant crop production. Moreover, Prathamastami is also called Kala Bhairabaastami due to the now-extinct practice of praying to Bhairav to get rid of bad karma.
Lord Lingaraj is said to visit Kapali Matha, his maternal uncle’s house, on this day. The presiding deities of this Matha, Lord Baruneswar and Goddess Banadevi, are the maternal uncle and aunt of Lord Lingaraj. It is said that drinking water from the Paapanaasini pond in the premises of this Matha redeems devotees of committed sins.
Similar to this Odia tradition, there is a segment of people in Judaism who observe the Fast of the Firstborn where the first sons in the family undertake fasting in remembrance of the firstborn children of Hebrews saved from the deaths caused by the Plague of the Firstborn of Egypt.
