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As Lord Jagannath is the presiding deity of Orissa, many of
His festivals are also devotionally followed in Oriya households. "Chitalagi"
or "Chitou Amavasya" is one such festival, which falls on the
new-moon day of the 'Sravana' (August). On this day, in the temple of
Jagannatha, the deity bears a golden mark ('chita') on the forehead. A
special variety of rice-cake known as "Chitou Pitha" is given to
the deity as food-offering. This variety is also prepared in every
household of the 'Oriyas' of the coastal districts.
In rural areas this is more or less observed as an agricultural festival.
On this occasion the farmers worship the paddy fields. After a
purificatory bath in the morning they go to their respective paddy fields
with cake, flowers, milk etc and pray the fields to yield a good crop.
The Ancient Tradition
It is in the primitive tradition to appease evil powers through worship;
whether they are animals, serpents, inspects or plants. People worship and
pray them to avoid their wrath. 'Pilas' breed enormously in the paddy
fields and tanks during the rainy season. Farmers while working
bare-footed in the fields often get their feet cut by the sharp edge of
their shells. Therefore, during the festival the piles are appeased as a
female form of evil power known as 'Gandeisuni' ('Genda' is pile). The
farmer girls go to the fields and while offering cakes pray "Oh,
Gandeisuni, be appeased and do not cut the legs of my father or brother".
The Legend Of Harali Kans
In Sambalpur areas this festival is known as
"Harali Kans". People of the areas believe it to be a day of the
witch, 'Tandei' who moves in the dark to suck the blood of the children.
To save children from her wrath mothers draw peculiar designs below the
naval zone of the children before the night falls. As they believe that
would scare away witch, a common variety of rice-cake Chakuli Pitha is
offered to the witch to be appeased and thereafter the cake is taken by
all.