Plants and their Resources which are Utilized in Gajalakshmi Puja for Adoring Goddess Lakshmi

By : Ushashee Mandal, Swagat Kumar Mallick, Gyanranjan Mahalik

Page No: 193-196

Abstract
The various species of flora and fauna along with the ecosystem all combined together are known as Biodiversity. Around 80% of the Indians follow Hinduism which is an ancient religion that has many types of beliefs in festivals, and religious practices. Gajalakshmi Puja is one of the eminent festivals mostly honoured and observed in Odisha. The celebration begins from the night of the full moon day i.e. Kumar Purnima and celebrated for 11 days. The plants and plant parts which are used in this holy occasion were gathered from the priest and the other people and mentioned in this paper. A number of 52 plant species are used are belonging to 29 families were recorded during the survey and observation. Among which Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., Oryza sativa L., Mangifera indica L. etc. are mostly used in the Gajalakhmi Puja. The different plant species with their botanical name, local name, family, habitat, plant parts usage and form of uses are documented.

Authors :
Ushashee Mandal, Swagat Kumar Mallick and Gyanranjan Mahalik
Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2021.37.01.23