{{short description|Annual festival in Odisha, India}} {{Infobox holiday |holiday_name = Pousha Purnima |type = hindu |longtype = |image = |nickname = Puspuni |observedby = [[Odisha]] |begins = [[Pausha]] Shukla [[Purnima]] |ends = Pausha [[Purnima (day)|Purnima]] |date2013 = 16 Jan- 27 Jan |date2014 = 06 Jan- 16 Jan |date2015 = 26 Dec- 06 jan |date2017 = 04 Jan - 14 Jan |date2018 = 02 Jan - 03 jan |celebrations = |observances = |relatedto = [[Paush Purnima]] }}
'''Pousha Purnima''', also known as '''Puspuni''', is an annual harvest festival observed in [[Odisha]], [[India]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Pousa Purnima|url=http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Nuapada_Gazetteer.pdf|website=gopabandhuacademy.gov.in|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> on the full moon ([[Purnima|Puni]]) in the month of Pus (Sanskrit ''[[Pausha]]''). The day is an opportunity for farmers to celebrate their annual harvest, and is accompanied by celebrations held by other communities, involving feasts, music and dance.
==Observance==
[[File:Puspuni Chher Chhera.jpg|thumb|Cultural Festival where children travel with local songs asking for food grains called "ChherChhera". Local to Western Odisha.]]Bargarh town, in Western Odisha observes Pousha a day later than elsewhere, reflecting beliefs on the deaths of mythical King of [[Dhanuyatra]].
The farmers of Western Odisha grow rice on their agricultural land during monsoon and harvest in autumn. Pausha occurs after the harvest in celebration, and involves cooking dishes, especially goat meat, along with rice pudding and cakes. The food is eaten with family and friends. Some communities celebrate with ''Kusna'' (rice-liquor) and ''Mahuli.'' This feasting is associated with community playing, singing and dancing. In past, the male youth played ''Chhur, Gudu, and Gourbaadi''. Some engage themselves in pastimes like ''Kukraamaar'' (cock-fight), ''Garraamaar'' (ram-fight) and the like. Likewise, the girls played ''Saatgaati'' or ''Kansaadi'' indoors and ''Humo-bauli'' outdoors.
A tradition known as ''chher-Chheraa'' ("grain for the birds") is also practiced, that involves leaving some produce unattended for wildlife.<ref>{{cite news|title= Chher Chhera : The Agricultural Festival of Western Odisha|url=http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2014/Dec/engpdf/83.pdf|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref> Grains for this are collected door-to-door by children. Some of what is collected is given to the unlanded poor.
During celebrations, farmers gives payment to labourers who had worked the harvest (''Bhuti''), including a bonus called ''Nistaar''. The word ''nistaar'' means "freedom", and signifies the end of the contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Farmers Resent as Paddy Procurement Slows Down|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2014/jan/18/Farmers-Resent-as-Paddy-Procurement-Slows-Down-565415.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005132155/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2014/jan/18/Farmers-Resent-as-Paddy-Procurement-Slows-Down-565415.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2016|access-date=4 October 2016|work=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * https://nawrangpur.blogspot.in/2017/01/chher-chhera-in-puspuni-at-nabarangpur.html * http://www.bhubaneswarbuzz.com/updates/festivals/chher-chhera-puspuni-agricultural-festival-western-odisha * http://jaikosal.blogspot.in/2011/01/puspuni-important-agricultural-festival.html * http://eodishasamachar.com/en/western-odisha-community-of-uae-celebrates-puspuni-2017-invites-lokakabipadmashreehaladhar-nag-to-join-the-celebrations/ * https://odishalive.tv/news/puspuni-celebrations-organized-at-dubai/ * http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/uae-w-odisha-community-to-organise-puspani.html
{{Odia culture}}
[[Category:Festivals in Odisha]]