Pics: Sumath Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Aug 18: The month of Shravana has begun ushered in a lively atmosphere of festivity. Traditional ‘Choodi’ pooja, which is special to married women (muttaide), performed in Pramod Bhandarkar’s house on Sunday August 18.

All married women of the Bhandarkar family gathered at Pramod’s private residence in Malpe, near Sarveshwara Temple to perform Choodi Pooja. The pooja began at 11:30 am and continued until 12:30 pm.

The rituals included bhajan, aarti and mangalarati followed by a vegetarian buffet lunch for the attendees. As a part of tradition, married women exchanged Choodi, flower, applied arishina (haldi or turmeric) and kumkum on each other’s forehead, seeking blessings from elders.

The newly-wed couple in the family observed their ‘Prathama Choodi’ (first Choodi) as part of the celebration, with both the bride’ and groom’s families actively participating in the ceremonies.

On the occasion of the Choodi Pooja, ‘Tulsi pooja’ and ‘Hostilu Pooja’ are also performed. Women dressed in traditional attire, lit the lamp in front of the ‘Tulsi Katte’ and placed flowers, betel leaves and Choodi on it and also on the main entrance door to conduct the pooja.

Several traditional rituals are performed on this occasion. The pooja is conducted before noon. Women offer the betel leaves to their husbands and seek blessings and gifts. Later they go to their relatives’ houses and exchange the Choodi.

The Tulsi Pooja is followed by the worship of the sun. The Choodi is offered to Tulsi and next a pooja is performed at the entrance of the house followed by a pooja in the pooja room.

Chandrakala Kamath, an attendee explained about the ritual and said, “Choodi pooja is a grand festival in Gaud Saraswat Brahmin Samaj, observed every Friday and Sunday during the Shravana month. It is a nature worship ceremony that includes offering choodi to Tulsi, preparing naivedya and conducting the Hosyilu Pooja. It is performed for the prosperity and well-being of married women.

Sumana Bhandarkar, said, “For newly married women, the Choodi Pooja is a significant festival in Shravana. The pooja will be performed first in the husband's house and then in the parents house. The flowers that bloom during shravana month will be used. Specific type of grass, flowers and leaves like ‘Garike Hullu’, ‘Laya maddu’ ‘Anvali’, ‘Nerale Hoo’, ‘Mitai Hoo’, ‘Ratnagandhi’, ‘Ratha Hoo’, ‘karavira’, ‘Sevantige’ and ‘Nerkadi’ are tied up together to prepare the Choodi.

Prajna Bhandarkar, said, “This is my first choodi Pooja. Choodi pooja is like a festival. We gather various flowers, sit together and prepare chood, followed by a pooja, a Tulsi and our family god. The choodi will be offered to all married women (muttaide) and betel leaves will be offered to mens and seek blessing. The Shravana month starts with Nagarapanchami, followed by other festivals.”