BERHAMPUR: The Rath Yatra celebration in around 240 Jagannath temples of Ganjam district marked varied practices and unusual traditions. While most temples followed Puri temple rituals, others practised it as per their own convenience.
The speciality of the festival in the district is that while the chariots of most Jagannath temples are pulled as per the rituals of Puri Jagannath temple, chariots of the temples at Marada (Saran Srikhetra), Dharakote and Surangi are pulled one day after. While Lord Jagannath at Jarada is worshiped as Sarathi Gosain, the chariot of Devi Subhdra at Gosainnugaon in the city is pulled exclusively by women.
Though there is no religious explanation for the delay in chariot pulling in the three shrines, elderly people believe that as all devotees of the area visit Puri on the Rath Yatra day, there are not enough people to pull the chariot and hence, the nine-day festival is delayed by a day.
On the other hand, though there are no deities in Marada temple near Mathura village in Polosara block, all the rituals including the Rath Yatra are performed in the shrine. According to legend, the temple had sheltered Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra for over two years two centuries ago. The idols of the temple were shifted to Marada in 1733 and kept there for over two years. The then architects of the village had created a cave-shaped temple for the idols to hide them from Muslim invaders.
The then king of Athagadapatna, Jagannath Harichandan, who had built the rock temple at Marada to protect the deities is still remembered during annual Rath Yatra. The temple was constructed using stones of nearby Hatibari mountain.
Similarly, Jarada Jagannath temple, a replica of Puri temple witnessed a heavy congregation of devotees. Besides the locals, devotees from far off places including Andhra Pradesh participated in the festival. Jarada king Deepak Chandra Deo performed the sweeping ritual of the chariot and launched a website on Sarathi Gosain.
The annual Rath Yatra, which was stopped 70 years back in Dhunkapada village in Polosara block due to a clash between two groups, resumed this year due to the efforts of the villagers. Forgetting the old enmity, the villagers worked wholeheartedly to construct the chariot. The construction of the chariot was completed by Saturday night and the chariot was pulled after rituals were performed by the devotess on Sunday.
Two Die under Chariot Wheels
Berhampur: An 80-year-old woman and her five-year-old granddaughter met a tragic end on Sunday after coming under the wheels of the Trinity’s chariot during Rath Yatra at Singipur village under Patapur police limits here. Sources said the deceased, identified as Rukuna Sahu, and her granddaughter Laxmi were praying in front of the chariot which was ascended by the Trinity. While the duo was praying with closed eyes, devotees started to pull the chariot and both came under the wheels. While Rukuna died on the spot, Laxmi was rushed to Digapahandi Community Health Centre and later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital as her condition deteriorated. However, Laxmi breathed her last on her way to the hospital. Following the mishap, chariot pulling was halted as villagers demanded compensation for the deceased. On being informed, Sanakhemundi Tehsildar reached the village with police and pacified the irate villagers. Meanwhile, the villagers have requested the priests to decide on the future course of action on chariot pulling.
