- By Kashish Rai
- Sat, 20 Jan 2024 10:41 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Samba Dashami 2024: The sacred festival Samba Dashami is celebrated in Odisha. According to the traditional Odia calendar, it is commemorated on the tenth day of the Shukla Paksha of Pausha Month, or the waxing phase of the moon, in the month of Pausha (December - January). The eastern region of Odisha is where this celebration is most widely observed. According to the sacred Hindu texts, the Sun God Surya healed the leprosy Samba, son of Lord Krishna, after he had been penitent for 12 years in the Konark area. Mothers pray to Surya on this day to safeguard their children’s health. This year, Samba Dashmi will be celebrated on 20th January 2024.
Let us check out some relevant details about this Odia festival further.
Samba Dashami 2024: Date
- Suryodayam Time (Sunrise) - 6:53 AM, 20th January 2024
- Suryastam Time (Sunset) - 5:49, 20th January 2024
- Dashami Tithi Upto - 07:26 PM, 20th January 2024
On the occasion of Samba Dashmi, women offer prayers to Lord Surya and receive the blessings of good health and long life of their offspring. (Image Source: Instagram)
Samba Dashami 2024: Legends Associated With This Day
According to folklore, Samba once suffered from leprosy (or, in other versions, psoriasis), but after praying to Lord Surya, he recovered. Before he was healed, Samba endured 12 years of penance. It is believed that Samba carried out this penance at Konark, Odisha's well-known Sun Temple. According to a different version, Samba constructed Sun Temples in Kashmir, Modhera, and Konark after his healing. An intriguing observation from the occasion is that Hindus were aware of the sun's healing properties thousands of years ago.
Samba Dashami is the day that Samba was healed. Mothers do Surya Puja on this day in particular to appease Surya Bhagawan and safeguard their children's health.
Samba Dashami 2024: Rituals Associated With This Sacred Day
- On the day of "Samba Dashami," women get up early to prepare customary meals for the Sun God, such as Khichdi, Oriya Puri, and Ghadghadia Tarkari, a curry. Following the offering of the food items to the Surya, the women make a variety of cake-like meals known as Pitha (cake), which include Biri Laddoo, Chhenaguda, Makar Chaula, Dhanu Muaan, Chhenagaja, Khiri, Rasagola, Jhilli, and Sweet Curd. Most importantly, each child is served a different delicacy.
- A bowl of turmeric water infused with betel root is brought to "chaunra mula" at midday. Every cooked dish is presented on a plate. The family's women present all of their meals to the Sun God, whom they see through the bowl of turmeric water.
- They read the "Samba Dasami Brata Katha" story and offer prayers for everyone in the family, but especially for the household's children, to be safe.
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- An additional ceremony is performed in the evening as a component of the "Samba Dasami" ceremony. Lord Yama receives a unique offering of Budha Chakuli during this "Mahakala Puja."
(Disclaimer: This is based on general public information. Jagran English does not confirm its veracity. Before adopting any measures, consult an expert from the relevant field.)