Punn Ceremony is held in
Jammu and Kashmir during the month of August or September and is dedicated to the worship of
Lord Ganesh.
On this day, women prepare special wheat pancakes, fried in butter, called ‘roths’. A metal pot symbolic of Lord Ganesh is placed in a clean spot in the house. A mixture of green grass, barley, and flowers is placed on a metal plate. A small quantity of the mixture is also put on the pot. A ‘mavli’ (sacred thread) is tied on the neck of the pot. The sacred Hindu symbol of ‘Ohm’ is painted on it. A coin is dropped into it and some milk is poured.
The members of the family gather in the worship place. The senior most woman in the house places the mixture of grass, barley, and flowers onto the family member’s hands and blesses them for their welfare. The distribution of the mixture is followed by a ceremonial recital of the story of Bib Dharam Maej, a legendary woman. In between the recital, some prayers are offered to Lord Ganesh. On the conclusion of the story, everybody puts the mixture held in their hands into the decorated pot. ‘Roths’ along with a cup of a traditional tea, called ‘Kahwa’, are then distributed to the family members. The ‘roths’ are distributed among the relatives and neighbors.
