Prathamastami: A Festival to Honour Firstborns

Bhubaneswar: Prathamastami is an Odia festival celebrated every year for the prosperity and long life of the firstborn child of the family.

The name ‘Prathamastami’ has come from two words, ‘Prathama’ meaning first, and ‘Ashtami’ meaning the eighth day. Ashtami has significance in this festival as it falls in the Astami tithi of Krushna Paksha in the Hindu month of Margasira.

The firstborn is worshipped and honored today. They are gifted with new clothes and served various types of pancakes.

Mythological Significance

The festival is also known as Kaal Bhairava Ashtami or Paap-Nashini Ashtami as Kaal Bhairav is worshipped on this day.

The importance of Kaal Bhairava Ashtami is also mentioned in the tenth episode of Ekamra Chandrika. It is also believed that Prathamastami is Lord Shiva’s favorite festival.

On this day, Lord Chandrasekhar, the representative idol of Lord Lingaraj, is worshipped as firstborn and goes on a ritualistic visit to his maternal uncle’s house.

In Odia tradition, nephews perform maula shraddha which falls between Dussehra and Diwali. Nephews offer shraddha for their uncles as part of their tribute towards their uncles. On this day, generally, maternal uncles give new clothes to their nephews till they get married.  Even after marriage, maternal uncles invite the newly wedded nephew and his wife and gift them new clothes to mark the end of the Prathamastami ritual.

In Shree Jagannath Puri, a special ritual of Lord Jagannath is held on this day. As per tradition, Baruna Puja is held for Lord Jagannath after the daily morning rituals . Thereafter new clothes and sweets that come as an offering from Niali Madhaba (Madhabananda Jew is the maternal uncle of Lord Jagannath) temple is presented to the Trinity.

‘Enduri pitha’ a special type of pancake is offered to Shree Jagannath and his siblings for breakfast. This special steamed rice dumpling, stuffed with coconut and molasses filling, and wrapped in turmeric leaves are prepared particularly on Prathamastami, once a year and is offered to god.