What is 'Kauriya Kathi', practised in Odisha on Diwali?

In Odisha, people practise 'Kauriya Kathi' on Diwali by burning jute sticks to honour and invoke their ancestors. After performing puja at home, residents step outside and burn the sticks while calling out the names of their forefathers, with some believing the ritual invites them. The tradition stems from the belief that ancestors reside in the wide, open sky.