While majority of the country celebrates Akshaya Tritiya as an auspicious day for new beginnings, investments, and charity, Odisha takes a different turn. Here, the focus shifts from gold and material wealth to 'investments' of an agrarian kind: the first sowing of the paddy seeds. This unique celebration, known as Akhi Muthi Anukula, marks the official commencement of the agricultural season, transforming the auspicious day into a ritual deeply rooted in the state's agrarian heartland.
Akshaya Tritiya, falling on the third lunar day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha month, retains its inherent auspiciousness in Odisha. The very name, signifying "the imperishable" or "the eternal," is embraced as a harbinger of a bountiful harvest. However, the primary focus of the day in Odisha is not on purchasing gold or initiating new ventures in the commercial sense. Instead, it revolves around the symbolic act of sowing the first handful of paddy seeds—the Akhi Muthi—in a ritual called Anukula.
For generations, the success of the monsoon and the subsequent harvest have dictated the prosperity of families and communities. Akhi Muthi Anukula is therefore akin to a prayer and a community affirmation for a fruitful agricultural cycle.
The preparations for Akhi Muthi Anukula begin well in advance. Farmers meticulously clean their agricultural tools, ensuring they are ready for the season ahead. The selected paddy seeds, often heirloom varieties passed down through generations, are treated with reverence. On the auspicious morning of Akshaya Tritiya, families gather in their paddy fields, dressed in new or clean attire.
The central figure in the ritual is usually the head of the household or an elder farmer, who performs the symbolic sowing. Before stepping onto the field, prayers are offered to Dharti Maa (Mother Earth) and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, seeking their blessings for a rich harvest. An earthen pot filled with water, mango leaves, and sometimes a betel nut, symbolising abundance and good fortune, is often placed at the edge of the field.
The farmer then carefully takes a handful (thus, akhi muthi) of the prepared paddy seeds. Facing the east, considered an auspicious direction, they scatter the seeds onto a small, ploughed patch of land. This initial sowing is accompanied by chanting of prayers and traditional folk songs that invoke a plentiful monsoon and a golden harvest. The act is performed with utmost reverence, signifying the farmer's deep respect for the land and the life-giving grain.
Following the symbolic sowing, a simple feast is often prepared and shared by the family in the field. This communal eating reinforces the connection to the land and the shared hope for a prosperous agricultural year. Often, traditional Odia delicacies made from newly harvested grains from the previous season are part of this meal.
The spirit of Akhi Muthi Anukula extends beyond individual farms. In many villages across Odisha, community-level celebrations are organised. The village priest often plays a significant role, conducting special prayers and rituals in the village temple before farmers head to their fields. Sometimes, a symbolic sowing is done collectively on a common piece of land, representing the unity and shared aspirations of the entire community.
Local fairs and gatherings might also be organised around this time, fostering a sense of camaraderie and celebrating the agricultural heritage of the region. These events often feature traditional music, dance performances, and the sharing of local agricultural knowledge.
The emphasis on the first sowing distinguishes Odisha's Akshaya Tritiya celebration from the more commercially oriented observances in other parts of India. While the underlying auspiciousness of the day remains, the focus in Odisha is firmly rooted in the agrarian cycle and the community's dependence on a successful harvest.
This unique tradition highlights the deep connection to agriculture, underscoring the profound relationship between the people of Odisha and their land. The importance of community is also evident, with the collective prayers and sometimes communal sowing emphasising the shared destiny of the agricultural community. The focus remains on sustenance, prioritising the life-giving grain rather than material wealth.
Even today, the essence of Akhi Muthi Anukula continues to resonate deeply in its rural heartland. Farmers, despite facing modern challenges, still uphold this tradition with faith and hope. For example, this year, Bhubaneswar saw a state-level farmers' gathering at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) farm. Mohan Charan Majhi, the current state chief minister, also participated in the seed sowing ritual, followed by the Bhumi Pujan (a ritual that involves praying to the land). Meanwhile, in Berhampur, Governor Haribabu Kambhampati will also be taking part in the ceremonial Akhi Muthi Anukula event.
Despite emerging political undertones in these celebrations, the traditional gatherings continue to serve as a reminder of one's connection to the land, the importance of the monsoon, and the anticipation of a bountiful harvest that will sustain their families and communities. At a time when the country celebrates Akshaya Tritiya with new purchases, Odisha reminds that true prosperity often takes root in the most fundamental of connections—the one between people, their sustenance, and the nurturing embrace of Mother Earth.