GENESIS OF UTKAL BRAHMINS.

शुद्ध चित्त हरि भक्त,न तस्य सदृशो ब्राह्मणः धर्मं जानाति इति ब्राह्मणः।  धर्मे स्थितो भवति इति ब्राह्मणः। धर्ममार्गे चरति स ब्राह्मणः। धर्मं सम्पूज्य मन्यते स ब्राह्मणः। Introduction: English Meaning: The one who understands Dharma is called a Brahmana.The one who abides in Dharma is a Brahmana. The one who walks the path of Dharma is a Brahmana. The one who honors and reveres Dharma is truly a Brahmana. सत्यं प्रथमपादस्तु, शौचं द्वितीय उच्यते। तृतीयो दयया युक्तः, चतुर्थः तपसा दृढः॥ एते चारुपादाश्चैव, धर्मस्तिष्ठति निश्चितम्। यः पालयति धर्मं वै, स पालयति सर्वकम्॥ धर्म- यस्य कर्मणि धर्मस्य चतुर्गुणाः — सत्यं, दया, तपः, शौचं — विद्यन्ते, यत् कर्म विश्वशान्तिदायकं, विश्वकल्याणकरं च धारणीयं भवति, तत् एव धर्मः। अर्थ: जो कर्म सत्य, दया, तप, शौच (शुद्धता), शांति एवं जगत्-कल्याण से समृद्ध हो तथा धारण करने योग्य हो — वही धर्म है।  Dharma. That action in which the four qualities of Dharma—truth (satya), compassion (dayā), austerity (tapaḥ), and purity (śauca)—are present, an...

Prathamastami:- Prathamastami ( Hindi-प्रथमाष्टमी)( Bengali-প্রথমাষ্টমী)) or Prauda Ashtami ( Hindi-प्रौढ़ाष्टमी), Padhuan Ashtami, (Bengali -প্রৌঢ়াষ্টমী) short name  Padhuan or  Puda(পুড়া পরব ) is a festival which is observed in Odisha and Utkal Brahmin  community of  West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India and abroad , for the long life and prosperity of the eldest child. At the age of 5, Lord Shri Hari Narayan's avatars are consecrated through Prana Pratishta at their birthplace. Similarly, in Utkal Brahmin families, on Prathmashtami, when the eldest child turns 5, they traditionally take a seat on a wooden pedestal known as a "Pidha." Prathamastami is an annual celebration observed on the 8th day following Kartik Purnima. During this significant event, the eldest child of the family is honored with a ceremonial lamp lighting and a series of elaborate rituals, accompanied by the chanting of sacred Mantras. Th...