Chakulia Pandas Are No Longer Seen Roaming the Village Streets
Kakatpur, 29/7:
Chakulia Pandas are a community residing in Odisha. They are lower-caste Brahmins belonging to the Kashyapa gotra (lineage). Traditionally, they go from place to place singing devotional songs and seeking alms. Many of them reside in the undivided Puri district.
Unlike regular beggars who knock on doors, Chakulia Pandas roam the village streets chanting sacred verses and hymns in loud voices. They do not directly ask anyone for alms; instead, they recite various religious verses aloud while walking through the village, and accept whatever offerings people give them voluntarily.
According to tradition, Chakulia Pandas are believed to be descendants of Parashurama and are said to live on alms as a result of a curse from Lord Rama. Another legend suggests that during the period of exile in disguise, Bhima took on the name Ballava Panda while working as a cook in King Virata’s palace. During that time, he practiced “Chakra Bhiksha” — collecting food offerings by circling the village three times without knocking on anyone’s door. He would accept whatever was given.
The Brahmins who accompanied Bhima during that period are said to be the ancestors of today’s Chakulia Pandas.
