Odia women in Canada, Ireland & the UK celebrate Sabitri Brata
Recalling how they grew up seeing their mothers, grandmothers and aunts celebrate the occasion, Subhashree Dash, a teacher in Ottawa, said, "When I initially moved to the Bay Area in California, it was heartening to find Odia women continuing these traditions.
After I came to Canada, I took the initiative to organize the puja and invited other women."
Like in India where women go shopping for puja materials and fruits, those living abroad shared shopping and puja preparation responsibilities among themselves, while the saris were either bought online or during their visits to Odisha.
"As many as 30 women took part in the rituals. We readied the puja thalis containing items like sindoor, bangles and most importantly the 'brata', among others," Pallabika Das, a homemaker from Dublin, said.
Goddess Sabitri's idol was prepared with haldi, kumkum and kajal, among others, and the story of Sabitri was read out, an important part of the rituals.
The aim of most women living abroad is to observe the 'brata' so that their children come to know about it and follow it later in their lives. "It is also an occasion to strengthen the bonding among women belonging to the Odia community. It brings a sense of belonging and pride," Sabita Pradhan, an IT professional from Kent, UK, said.
As some women put it, the Sabitri brata reflects their spiritual values. "Every married Odia woman values its significance. It's a privilege to celebrate this day in a ritualistic way even in a foreign land," Pallabika added.
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