Bhubaneswar: While Diwali is celebrated across India with the joy of lighting lamps, bursting crackers, and sharing sweets, in Odisha, the festival carries an added layer of spiritual significance through the ancient ritual of Badabadua Daka, a tribute to ancestors observed by every Odia household.
Badabadua Daka is a heartfelt reminder of the enduring connection between the living and those who came before. This custom allows families to honor their forefathers, recognizing the lives they led and the sacrifices they made. It’s a ritual rooted in the belief that one’s existence is deeply tied to the legacy of their ancestors.
According to mythology, the spirits of ancestors descend to earth on Mahalaya and depart on Diwali. As a gesture to honor and guide them, families light kaunria kathi (jute sticks) in the evening and recite, “Badabadua ho aandhaara asi alua re jao. Ganga jao, Gaya jao, Baisi pahanche mahaprasad khai gada gadau thao”, meaning, “Ancestors, come in darkness and go back along the lighted path.”
The Badabadua Daka ritual is observed both at home and in sacred spaces. Many Odias visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri to perform the ritual, lighting earthen lamps and jute sticks in reverence. Those who cannot make the pilgrimage to Puri observe the ceremony at home, typically near the Tulsi Choura (holy basil plant), where the eldest family member lights the jute sticks. Other family members follow, offering the illuminated jute sticks to the sky while chanting the traditional Badabadua lines.
Chinmaya Das remarked, “We have a unique tradition of Badabadua Daka that is celebrated only in Odisha, where we honor our ancestors amidst the festive spirit. As an Odia, I take great pride in our customs and hope that our younger generation will carry this tradition forward, embracing our legacy with pride.”
In blending Diwali’s festive cheer with the solemnity of honoring their ancestors, Odia families preserve a beautiful tradition that acknowledges their roots and pays tribute to those who paved the way for future generations.
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