Dubai: Choodi Puja Offered for First Time in UAE with Devotion
Report and pics by Sujay Bendore
Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai (GA)
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Dubai, Aug 29: For Ffrst time in the UAE Sharvan month Choodi puja was organized by UAE Amchigele Samaj on Friday August 29 at Sindhi Ceremonial Hall Center in Bur Dubai. Group of Amchi ladies celebrated Choodi puja in a traditional way. Mahaprasada was served after the puja.
Choodi puja has should be offered only in the month of Shravan since Lord Vishnu and Godess Lakshmi Devi are in yoganidra. If anyone offeres Choodi puja in the month of Shravan, the tradtions say, that they will get complete punya (Sampoorna phala siddhirastu). This puja is usually erformed by group of ladies, mainly for their long soubhagya yoga, happiness and wealth in life. If this puja conducted by a group, it will give benefits to the whole society.
Choodi puja or Chudi puja, is observed during Shravan month in Karnataka especially by the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins (GSB)community. Tulsi plant and Lord Soorya are worshipped during Choodi puja, which is observed on Fridays and Sundays in the month of Shravan. The main ritual involves exchange of a small bouquet of flowers by married women.
Choodi is derived from the Kannada word ‘Soodi,’ which means a tied bundle. The main ritual involves arrangements of flowers and herbs in a small bundle. Usually a bundle will contain four to five flowers, darba grass and two or three herbs.
A sweet mixture of puffed rice, coconut and jaggery is prepared on the day and offered during puja. Some people prepare panchakajjaya, a sweet made of five ingredients.
Locally available herbs and flowers are used to prepare the Choodi. Some of the common flowers and herbs used include Ratnagandhi, Shanka Pushpa, darba grass, Gauri Pushpa etc. The flowers are arranged with some artistic sense.
First a Tulsi puja is offered. Next is the worship of the sun. The freshly prepared Choodi is offered to Tulsi. Next a puja is performed at the entrance of the house and this if followed by a puja in the puja room.
Young women offer Choodis to elderly women and take blessings. Elderly women also gift young women with Choodis.
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