Celebrating Samba Dashami Rituals at my Village

As on 12th January it was Samba Dashami, it’s our custom that everyone should be present at home for celebrating this festival.
Samba Dashami is the festival of eastern part of the odisha, india in Hindu Culture. As per the mythology, Samba is the son of lord Krishna, he worshipped almighty sun (suryadev) for 12 years curing his health when he was ill. After he done the pooja to almighty sun , he got well from the disease leprosy.
That is the reason, on this day all the mother pray to sun (suryadev) for health of their children. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the sukla pakshya of month of pausha as per our oriya calendar.
So we went to our village at evening of 11th January. We had a great time and enjoyed a lot as the whole family was present there. Then, all the ladies started making some different kind of pithas (Rice cakes) for morning pooja Prasad. Then we all had our dinner and slept earlier because we’ve to wake up at 4:30 am for the morning Pooja of Samba Dashami.
On the next day our whole family woke up at 4:30am as it was too cold outside. It was totally dark outside and filled with lot of fog. First all the ladies of our house took bath and then we and our children took the bath. Then all started making arrangements for morning pooja of Samba Dashami. It took almost one hour for making arrangements like cleaning the house, making some Prasad, keeping the pooja accessories ready for pooja and washing the place and making some Jhoti ( made the solution using rice and water, make some jhoti in the floor) where the pooja was to be done. After the sun rise, all the ladies of our house started the morning pooja of Samba Dashami. My mother did all the pooja while all others helped her. First, she worshipped the almighty Sun and then she offered some Prasad.

My Mother Worshiped the Sun (Suryadev).

My Mother offered the diya to the Sun (Suryadev).

My Mother Offered Prasad to the Suryadev.

All Family members were doing Pranayam to Lord Suryadev

Then my wife and my brother’s wife went to kitchen to make breakfast for all of us. I thought of having a small walk in my village. I enjoyed the peaceful weather of my village and talked with some of my brothers. It just made me relaxed from my daily life works. Then we all did our breakfast.
After that all the ladies started making khechedi (mixed rice, dal, coconut and ingrediants), kheer, dalma, makarchaula, and some more types of pithas. All the children started to study and I went to market to buy some necessary items for the lunch and evening pooja. I just completed my marketing within 1 and ½ hours but I thought of spending some time with my friends.
At 1:00 pm all the work was completed and all were ready for the afternoon pooja. Then my mother started the afternoon pooja. She worshipped the almighty Suryadev (Sun). It was just great as it is. Then all the children of our house ate the Prasad. In the afternoon, it is a custom in our village that all the children will eat the Prasad from everyone’s house. All the children of our houses went to our neighbourhood to eat the Prasad. And we elders sat for the lunch. The Samba Dashami lunch is indeed a treat itself.
Then everyone took some rest as it was a busy afternoon. At 4:00pm, all sat in front of our house and had a good family time. Then at 6:00 pm we did the last but not the least the evening pooja of Samba Dashami. My mother did it. Then all ladies went to make the dinner while I sat and read some books, while all the children went to study room to study. After the dinner, everyone went to bed to sleep and eventually the day ended. It is the way how our family celebrate Samba Dashami.

Almighty Sun

Different Kinds of Pithas

Chenna Nadia Pura (Used as fillings in Pitha)

Chakuli Pitha Batta

Rice Khiri

Special Odisha Dalma

Chakuli Pitha