Kabat Puja Celebrated in Every Household
Kakatpur – In Odia culture, thirteen festivals are celebrated in twelve months. Among them, Karkat Sankranti or Dakshinayana Sankranti is a significant one. Today marks that sacred occasion. According to tradition, Kabat Puja is performed in the kitchen doors of every household, worshipping Maa Alakshmi.
From today, the Sun begins its southward journey. On this day, at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, rituals and offerings associated with Dakshinayana are conducted in front of the Chaturdha Murti (the four deities), as described in the Puja Niti (ritual text) of Lord Jagannath.
In every Odia household today, images of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Maa Alakshmi are drawn on the kitchen door. Offerings like sankhudi bhoga (a special food offering) are placed before these images. Maa Alakshmi is believed to be the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi. Once a year, her image is drawn on the south-facing kitchen door and she is worshipped with offerings.
It is believed that this practice removes negative energies from the home and invites the blessings and grace of Goddess Lakshmi. Kabat Puja has been observed across the Puri district, especially in rural areas, on the occasion of Dakshinayana Sankranti.
