SITALSASTHI 2021

June 15, 2021, 6:20 p.m. by Karuwaki Speaks ( 1096 views)

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Sitalsasthi celebrates the marriage of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of ‘Jyestha’ which corresponds to the months of May-June in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated with immense fervour all over India, especially in the Sambalpur district of Orissa. It was started 400 years ago in Sambalpur after the king of Sambalpur brought Utkal Srotriya Vaidika Brahmins from Brahmin sasana villages of puri district.The localities of Nandapada is oldest seat of these Brahmins.They first started Sitalsasti Utsav.

Sitalsasthi 2021|karuwaki spekas

It is a three-day festival , where in a family is chosen to play the role of Goddess Parvati’s family to propose marriage to Lord Shiva. Since Shiva is known as ‘Swayam Bhu’, no one plays the role of his family. The festival is attended by a large number of ‘Hijras’ and ‘Eunuchs’, as Shiva is also referred as ‘Ardhanarishwara’.

Significance of Sital Sashti

Sitalsasthi 2021|karuwaki spekas

According to the legends, On the day of Jyestha Shukla Paksha Sasthi, Shiva was impressed with her austerity and agreed to marry her. The festival also marks the beginning of monsoon season. It is also said that Shiva wanted to know how deeply Parvati loves him. So he incarnated himself as ‘Batu Brahmana’ and met Parvati. He later asked Parvati why she wanted to marry someone who lives in a graveyard, wears snakes as ornaments and who is unaware of his own ‘kula’ and gotra’. To which she replied, she is marrying him for his knowledge and not for his looks. She further stated that she will not accept anyone else as her husband. Satisfied with her answer, Shiva appeared in his divine self.

Celebration

Sitalsasthi 2021|karuwaki spekas

The major attraction of the festival is the grand carnival, also known as the homecoming procession of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. During the ceremony, the family of the Goddess welcomes the procession. While from the groom’s side, someone dressed as Hanuman and Narsimha take charge of the procession to the bride’s residence. The idols of Shiva and Parvati are placed in the palanquin, while the parents of Parvati perform the ‘Kanyadaan’ and the marriage is solemnised.


Comments (2)

user
Mini 2 years, 6 months ago
Unique culture of Orissa!
user
AnonymousUser 1 year, 9 months ago
Very nice!