The Orissa Socio-Cultural Association (OSCA), Ahmedabad, celebrated the auspicious festival of Kumar Purnima on Sunday, 1st November 2026, at Jagannath Mandir Parisar, Adalaj, Gandhinagar. The celebration featured a vibrant programme showcasing the rich cultural, spiritual and artistic heritage of Odisha.

Kumar Purnima, one of the most cherished traditional festivals of Odisha, is celebrated on the full moon day of Ashwin. The festival holds special significance for unmarried girls, who worship Lord Kartikeya, popularly known as Kumar, and offer prayers seeking blessings for a happy and prosperous life. The occasion is marked by traditional rituals, prayers to the Sun and Moon, folk songs, games, cultural activities and special festive delicacies. It also provides an opportunity for families and communities to come together and pass on age-old customs and traditions to younger generations.An interesting tradition associated with Kumar Purnima at the sacred Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri is the divine pastime of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath and Goddess Mahalakshmi playing the traditional game of Jua Kaudi (cowrie shells) or Pasha (dice). According to tradition, following the game, the Lord remains in Goddess Lakshmi’s custody for seven days, with His representative, Shri Madan Mohan, staying at Lakshmi’s temple until the eighth day. This unique pastime beautifully portrays the affectionate relationship between the divine couple while conveying a deeper message about self-control and the dangers of gambling.OSCA Ahmedabad had been celebrating Kumar Purnima for several years with the objective of bringing the Odia community together and preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage in Gujarat. This year programme was graced by Shri Banchhanidhi Pani, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, and Shri P. K. Pujari, IAS, Former Secretary, Government of India. As per the President OSCA Shri H K Dash IAS, Ex- Secretaey Govt.of India, around 900 Odia people from Ahmedabad and neighbouring areas attended the celebration, making it a memorable occasion of cultural pride, devotion and community togetherness. The celebration featured a soulful musical performance by renowned Odia singer, composer, lyricist and actor Shri Charan Mohanty, who captivated the audience with devotional songs, bhajans dedicated to Lord Jagannath and popular Odia film melodies. His enchanting performance added a special charm to the festivities, creating an atmosphere filled with devotion, music, and cultural pride and made the occasion truly memorable for the Odia community and music lovers alike. OSCA General Secretary, Shri Badri Narayan Mahapatra, stated that the celebration aims to strengthen cultural bonds, inspire younger generations to remain connected with their cultural roots, and provide a vibrant platform to showcase Odisha’s timeless traditions, devotional heritage and artistic richness to the wider community.