Puspuni

Puspuni Annual Festival of Western Odisha

Puspuni is an annual festival observed by the people of Western Odisha. This is known as Chher-Chheraa.The word is derived from two Sambalpuri words, Chere and Charaa. Chere-Charaa means "grains for the birds" – a small part of your produce for the unattended lives upon this earth!.This Puspuni festival is closely indulged with agricultural manifestation. After the end of procurement season the Puspuni festival is celebrated.It has given rise to a great tradition of celebration by other communities, too. People of Western Odisha, irrespective of their economic occupation feast, song and dance, and rejoice in giving away on this festival Puspuni.This Puspuni people call odia New year.

Puspuni feast Image

This festival Puspuni the farmers of Western Odisha grow paddy on their agricultural land during monsoon and harvest in autumn. After they bring home all the yield, they find relaxed of all the toils and experience a great sense of satisfaction. This inspires them to rejoice with family .The festival Puspuni day  family dines together and share their dishes and cakes with other families and friends. this very occasion most of the villagers have non-vegetarian food like mutton, chicken, and fish and some have alcoholic drinks like mahuli mad(liquor). In earlier days the drinks are usually prepared in local method. The tribal people use to prepare the liquor out of rice and herbal which washygienic.This feasting is associated with community playing, singing and dancing. On this day the little boys and girls move round the village from door to door and collect Chher-Chheraa, a handful of paddy from every household. With this they prepare food and feast away from home. Puspuni celebrate Dance and music is an integral part of children's Chher-Chheraa. Chher Chheraa is also given away to the poor families who do not own agricultural land and or depend upon the farmers. Thus, Chher-Chheraa symbolises a concern for the non-producing members of the society.