A new beginning with memories
Today was the tenth day of the ritual of my friend. I posted about the incidence in this post. On tenth day all the family members and relatives went and did the rituals at the same place where it started. And in the evening there was a prasad seva ( feast) inviting everyone. The prasad comes from a temple and they ordered it from the Jagannath Temple, Puri. That is why it's called Mahaprasad. You can read more about it in the link. The Mahaprasad is considered as supreme importance for us - so much so that, if a unknown person also offers, then we eat it. We consider, its a luck to get Mahaprasad to eat. We have not visited the Jagannath Temple since long, and it was a privilege to have Mahaprasad yesterday.
We reached a bit late, as I had some work. By that time, most of the guests had departed. Met Aunty and it was very heart breaking moment to see her like this. She looked very sad and exhausted. Death is the biggest truth of life, and we feel the pinch only when someone very near and dear goes through it. May god give him strength to pass this difficult time and move ahead with her two sons.
It's a custom to do some contribution to the family - and we did that. They will have to give new clothing to their relatives, who were part of these rituals, as a family member. One of our friend even shaved his head.
The Mahaprasad comes in earthen pots like this. Puri is like 60 km away so all this came in a transport with care. There are skilled people who also come along to serve this. We cannot serve it as they will break. If you do not know, its very interesting fact that, these earthen pots are placed over one another when they are cooked. But all of them cooks perfectly - call it a miracle of divine touch.
Even though, I usually take very light dinner, I could not resist eating The Mahaprasad to the maximum. They had ordered around seven different varieties and each one of them was so delicious.
And the sweet - after long time - grabbed as much as I could.
Before coming, we captured some moments with the great departed soul. My friend had packed some Mahaprasad for our families and insisted to take it, even though I was denying, as it was late. But it was good I brought - my mother loved it today so much considering herself to be lucky.
Sometimes, it feels like, death is nature's recycle process - the ultimate truth through which old goes away and new comes. Those who are lucky, do not suffer and live a great life and depart to the heavenly place without giving any trouble to family. But their memories remains forever......
I have listened a lot about Jagannath Puri, hopefully some day we will be there and feel that divine experience.
Having Parsaad on banana leaves must be a very nice experience. It look a little more beautiful with the touch of nature.
May departed soul rest in peace, and strength be to the family.!
One must visit Puri, Lord Jagannath is believed to be the only living God, who has every day life like us. Even he takes rebirth every 14 years.
Sure sir, thank you
Hello dear friend @sanjeevm good afternoon I appreciate very much that you share these traditions and the beautiful photographs of the celebration with us.
Without a doubt, the death of a loved one is always very painful.
I take this opportunity to wish you a splendid weekend
Sorry again that your friends dad passed. It's a tough time indeed. I'm glad that the celebration was a good event with a fair amount of people attending. What is that food you were eating? It looks a little hard to pick up without a spoon or something lol
It's a special food brought from the temple - 2 different rice ( one plain, one sweet) , a dal fry, 3-4 curries , a special sweet and sour salad, and then the sweet. We are habituated to eat like this 😀
That's good, sounds like it is delicious! You certainly make it look like you were enjoying it!
For sitting on the ground, it’s funny but we don’t have a lot of furniture in our house right now so I’ve been sitting on the floor to eat many of our meals and I don’t mind it anymore. I actually kind of prefer it over the table lol. Our son has been eating like that with me for a few years now!
Is part of the ritual i guess, to eat as more naturely as possible?
Yes, people should sit together on the ground and eat. This is how, we all eat in general as well at home. There are some scientific benefit of this even - its considered one form of Yoga which helps digestion. All practices since ages.
Wow, well yoga is based on movements that humanity could do since allways so its logical some movements helps.
Is a feast of support? For the family?
You could say both - the feast is for to eat happily and bless the family to start fresh - and we do contribute to support - whatever we can.
That is so meaning full, im right now reading the wiki again, I guess each culture have ways to show love and support to their friends and family. And im glad you took your time and were there for your friend and his family, during this hard time and the rituals.
You have succeeded in taking me to india. Thanks for the insight tonight.
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It is a wonderfull post, it deserve all the support it can be given. Voted you with my best for helping your proyect, is not much but Is all i got :)
Many years ago I ate food on the leaves of a banana tree. Seeing your food scene reminded me of eating food on the leaves of a banana tree as a child.
Well, we just love it - it's a must in sacred events.
Venezuela actually does something similar, well wayuus does it. The famous hallaca was born from special celebrations food from enslaved indigenous people, the hallaca is now a simbol of cristmas, but long ago it was a food for a ritual to the moon godess now long forgotten...
Yet it wonders me a lot to see that indie also huse banana leaves in a sacred food, venezuela is weird, hallacas are basically corn mix with left over meat and a lot of small weird ingredients. Then boiled on the banana leaves and its taste is so unique that is a taste all venezuela will always say: Home.
Im fascinated by the ritual of your nation for passing, because is so different from ours that im totally amazed by it. My sincere support for your friend and his family, may God keep his father at his side and grand him peace on the heavently realm.
Wowow...food on Banana leaf....I am yet to enjoy one such treat
And that too Mahaprasad - I must say the taste and fragrance is ultimate.
Mahaprasad? Is there a international name for it?
See this - Wiki
Maha means the superior on best - prasad is the food from a divine place or temple.
Oh, ok this does make it a lot easier for a latino to learn a bit of your culture. 8 different offers? This is so interesting and weird. I will end up taking some time to undertand the wiki, so many concepts are... different from my own culture i barely get it...
So each offering is to a different deity and its for a different blessing? Or is all like different faces of the same deity? Just different rituals for diferent intentions?
No, each offering is for same deities - Lord Jagannath and his family - He has an elder brother, a sister , a wife ( who is god of wealth) - there is a lot to know and still research continuing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath
As someone born on a monotheist culture, is a bit hard to understand how a family of gods is part of a single one, but i guess is something like Holy spirit/Crist/Virgin mary/God. At the end of the day they are all Under the wings of God.
So I guess is similar to Lord Jagannath, His whole family is under him as they are part of the same deities.
Basically the only way i could learn and understand the wiky was drawing a parallel among our cultures, so i could get my head around it. Similarities are closer than differences?
Memories of others is a legacy we give to those we love, a great man give great memoryes for is loved ones is sayd on my land, and those legacys are forever remembered.
Now i know a bit more about the ritual and it is still both mystical and enigmatic, just a bit more brigther now. I hope your friends father soul is on a heavenly place along with God blessings and his family is fully aware of that and finds balance to the pain of the loss, and God conforms them as well.
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everytime I go home, we still eat food on banana leaves, specially during functions. Its a great feeling to have some traditional way, Odissa people love to eat this way the most 😊. keep your tradition alive sir. 👏