Prathamastami

{{Short description|Festival held in Odisha}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox holiday | holiday_name = Prathamastami | type = Hindu | image = Enduri Pitha.JPG | imagesize = | caption = Haladi Patra Pitha made during Prathamastami | official_name = | nickname = [[Bhairava Ashtami]], Saubhagini Ashtami, Paap-nashini Ashtami | observedby = [[Odia people|Odia]]s | litcolor = | longtype = | significance = Festival for the firstborn child of the family | begins = | ends = | date = [[Margashira]] [[Paksha|Krishna]] [[Ashtami]], 8th [[Agrahayana|Margashira]] of [[Odia calendar]] | date2022 = 16 November | date2023 = 5 December | frequency = annual | duration = 1 day | celebrations = | observances = [[Puja (Hinduism)|Pujas]], rituals, [[Enduri Pitha]] | relatedto = }}

'''Prathamastami''' is a ritual/festival held in [[Odisha]] praying for the life and prosperity of the eldest child of a family. The first child after completion of its one year is made to wear new clothes and offered a lighted lamp ovation by the senior female relatives followed by elaborate rituals during which the [[Mantra]]s are recited. The celebration falls on the eighth day of moon waning phase—''Ashtami''—of the month of [[Agrahayana|Margashira]] according to the [[Odia calendar]], occurring on the eighth day after [[Kartik Purnima]].

The ritual involves [[Arti (Hinduism)|Aarati]] of the eldest child by mother and relatives in which the maternal uncle sends the items necessary for the rituals like new clothes, coconut, jaggery, newly harvested rice, black gram, turmeric leaves, coconut and other things(etc). [[Ganesha]], [[Shashti]] devi and the family deity are worshipped. The main delicacy of the day is [[Enduri Pitha]].<ref> (ଏଣ୍ଡୁରି ପିଠା)[http://www.orissadiary.com/orissa_profile/ori_festival/nov/Prathamastami.asp Orissa profile] orissadiary.com</ref> This day is also known as Soubhagini Ashtami, [[Bhairava Ashtami|Kaal Bhairav Ashtami]] and Paap-nashini Ashtami.<ref name="Mohapatra2013">{{cite book|author=J Mohapatra|title=Wellness In Indian Festivals & Rituals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UdpzAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA166|date=December 2013|publisher=Partridge Pub|isbn=978-1-4828-1690-7|pages=166–167}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Odia culture}} [[Category:Culture of Odisha]] [[Category:Festivals in Odisha]] [[Category:Hindu festivals]]  [[Category:November observances]] [[Category:December observances]]