A Chakulia panda walking towards a house in a village in Odisha

Chakulia panda is a sect of people from the Indian state of Odisha who are mostly found to live in the southern Odisha. The male members of this sect walk from door to door and recite religious poems, [1] from early Odia literature and receive rice in return from the households. [2] and "suanga" (humorous plays) [3] They are believed to be a "lower class" "dignified" brahmin. [4] A Chakulia panda would be seen putting a mark of white sandalwood on the forehead, carrying a "chatri" (palm leaf umbrella), and walking with a bag of rice on his shoulder singing songs. Offering rice to Chakulia panda is considered holier as compared to hundred Brahmins. [5] They are heard reciting "Rama, Parasurama, Dasarathanandana Rama, Janakanandini Rama" while visiting houses. [6] He never asks for alms during the entire course of his visit and accepts whatever is offered. [7] [8] Slowly this cultural presentation is diminishing delimiting the visit of Chakulia panda to houses [9] and of them losing their livelihood.[10]

He carries a bag full of rice, a bag of rice on his shoulder and sings a song "Give and persuade others to give; whatever you give will be returned to you in much larger quantity

— Kunjabihari Das, L. K. Mahapatra [5]

Television show "Kalyani"

Inspired by the "Chakulia panda" culture, a NACO funded project for spreading awareness about health and safety in Odisha called "Kalyani" [11] was broadcast in Doordarshan during 200-2006. This program led the foundation of about 2,000 community level "Kalyani Health Clubs" with nearly half million members in rural Odisha.[12] The initiative was also aimed at spreading awareness about AIDS.[13]

Chakulia panda accepting rice from a house in Odisha

In literature

The story of Chakulia panda is narrated in many folktales in Odisha that have satirical remark on the greedy nature of Chakulia panda while begging and the moral of him being punished by a deity. [14] [15] They are the most talked characters in Odia literature. [16]

Bibliography

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Prafulla Mohanti (1973). My village, my life: Nanpur-portrait of an Indian village. Davis-Poynter. ISBN 978-0-7067-0090-9.
  2. ↑ Bidyadhar Misra; Amiya Kumar Mohanty; Utkal University. Dept. of Rural Economics and Sociology (1963). A study of the beggar problem at Cuttack. Dept. of Rural Economics and Sociology, Utkal University.
  3. ↑ N. C. Behuria (1990). Orissa State Gazetteer. Gazetteers Unit, Department of Revenue, Government of Orissa.
  4. ↑ The chariot. Trishakti Press. 1977.
  5. 1 2 Kunjabihari Das; L. K. Mahapatra (1979). Folklore of Orissa. National Book Trust.
  6. ↑ Binayak Misra (1986). Indian Culture and Cult of Jagannātha. Punthi Pustak.
  7. ↑ A. N. Tiwari (1976). Third Purba Bharat Sanskrutik Sammelan, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, 1976: Souvenir. Home (Public Relations) Department, Government or Orissa.
  8. ↑ Folk Culture. Institute of Oriental and Orissan Studies. 11 Jun 2009.
  9. ↑ "Odisha to have 'Urban Art, Culture groups' for traditional artists". Odishasuntimes.com. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Enroll more traditional artistes to spread Govt message: CM" (PDF). Political and Business Daily. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Regional language indian classic programmes" (PDF). Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "India: changing lives through TV programming". www.unaids.org. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Success Stories from Orissa: A Kalyani Initiative" (PDF). www.naco.gov.in. NACO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Sailabala Mahapatra. The Beating Treat: Folktales from Odisha. Mind Melodies. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-93-5018-194-2.
  15. ↑ Folk-lore. Indian Publications. 1969.
  16. ↑ The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 1957.
  17. ↑ Pabitra Mohana Nāẏaka (2001). The Voice of Silence: Sonepur Durbar and Indian Cultural Traditions. Orissa Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-7586-058-2.
  18. ↑ Banaras Hindu University (1961). Calendar.
  19. ↑ Sankar Sen Gupta (1969). Women in Indian Folklore: A Short Survey of Their Social Status and Position: Linguistic and Religious Study. Indian Publications.
  20. ↑ Chandra Sekhar Rath (2003). Chandrasekhar Rath: Stories. Grassroots. ISBN 978-81-89040-06-2.
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