Sudasha Brata, also known as Sudasa Vrata, is a significant ritual observed in Odisha. This unique observance occurs on the rare occasion when Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of the moon), Thursday, and Dashami align in the Oriya calendar, and it is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.
A Ritual of Familial Well-Being
Primarily observed by women, Sudasha Brata focuses on the welfare and prosperity of the family. Central to the ritual is the tying of a sacred thread around the hand, which is replaced only during the next Sudasa Vrata. This thread features ten knots, each tied while reciting one of the ten different names of Maa Lakshmi. This symbolic thread is worn by the woman until the next observance, where it is renewed.
Offerings and Devotions
On the day of the ritual, special food items such as Manda Pithas are offered to Goddess Lakshmi. Married women across Odisha fast and worship the goddess, seeking the well-being and prosperity of their families. The brata, prepared by dipping it in ritualistic turmeric water, is tied on the right arm of the women. The thread is knotted ten times, each with a different name of Goddess Lakshmi, symbolising the various facets of the deity.
The offerings to Goddess Lakshmi include ten flowers, ten manda pithas, ten chenna bhog, ten duba, gooseberry leaves, and rice grains. At dawn, a mixture of mashed chenna, banana, grated coconut, and jaggery is offered, followed by manda pithas at noon and panaa bhog before dusk.
Preparations and Historical Significance
The night before the puja, homes are thoroughly cleaned, and dung water is sprinkled for purification. Women then create colourful chittas and jhotis, intricate designs made from a rice grain mixture, leading from the entrance to the interior of the house. The next morning, the rituals commence before sunrise, with the idol of Goddess Lakshmi placed on a small wooden pedestal, and a kalash filled with water and paddy grains set in front. A mango twig with ten leaves is positioned atop the kalash.
According to folklore, Sudasha Brata has been a practice since the Satya Yuga. The legend recounts how Queen Ratnabati and Minister Trikuteswar’s wife, Padmabati, were inspired by Apsaras to perform this ritual. After experiencing hardships, they observed the Sudasha Brata with devotion, leading to the restoration of their fortunes.
Prasad and Tradition
A variety of pithas (rice cakes) and sweets are prepared as prasad, first offered to Goddess Lakshmi and then distributed among family members. The ritual underscores the importance of faith and sincerity, especially for those unable to participate fully due to living abroad or other constraints.
Sudasha Brata remains a cherished tradition, celebrated with devotion and hope for the prosperity and well-being of the family, encapsulating the essence of Odia culture and spirituality.
