Traditional Lakhimi Sabah by Chutia community celebrated in Lakhimpur district

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The traditional religious ritual of the Chutia community to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty and prosperity— Lakhimi Sabah or Panitola Sabah was celebrated on Wednesday at Kath Gaon under Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district.

Notably, the female devotees of the community has been observing the ritual following the tradition and heritage at the Kath Gaon Bor-Namghar since the Chutia regime in the eastern part of Assam on the Full Moon Day which is designated for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi in autumn season. Hundreds of female devotees take part in the festival.

By worshipping the goddess, the devotees pray her to protect the crops from the attack of harmful creatures, worms and insects and to keep people's misfortune away. According to tradition, the devotees take out a religious procession from the Namghar premises covering the village with the participation of six minor children, two boys and four girls, as part of the event.

During the rally, the devotees chant and recite Lakhimi Nam invoking the goddess. They also sound uruli during the procession wishing for betterment and good fortune of the people. Then panitola event— the hoisting and fetching of holy water from the holy river— is performed to worship the goddess. The local people pay obeisance to the holy procession while proceeding by offering xarai for their well-being.

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