PURI: Controversy surrounded Rath Yatra this year again as some devotees allegedly touched the deities during ‘Pahandi Bije’ and damaged the Tahia of Lord Jagannath despite a ban put by the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
Report of lapses surfaced when some devotees jumped the security cordon and approached near the deities during the ceremonial ‘Pahandi Bije’.
Allegations were levelled as a section of electronic media reported that some devotees tried to touch Lord Jagannath at the time of ‘Charamala’ being withdrawn from Nandighosh chariot. Taking advantage of being closer to the deity, the devotees attempted to touch the Lord. Some visitors also allegedly tried to touch Devi Subhadra near Srimandir during ‘Pahandi’.
In a similar breach of SJTA order, the Tahia of Lord Jagannath was also allegedly damaged as some volunteers and devotees tried to tear it. The cops, however, were clueless about the act.
The SJTA has banned devotees from climbing chariots and touching deities. Damaging Tahia is also an offence. SJTA officials could not be reached for comments on the issue.
However, Daitapati Nijog president Ramakrushna Das Mohapatra told reporters that no one has damaged the Tahia. “After taking it off from Lord Jagannath, it was offered to other deities. No one has teared it,” he said.
Tahia of the two other deities were taken off safely under tight security and handed over to the temple administration.
Volunteer at heart
While most people from abroad who have faith in Jagannath culture come to Puri as devotees to witness the annual Car Festival of the Trinity -- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra -- Lalatendu Bag is an exception. A techie working with Cognizant in the US, Bag turned up for the grand Rath Yatra in Puri on Saturday as a volunteer. He happily sprayed water on devotees to help them face the hot and humid conditions during Lord’s ‘Pahandi Bije’.
“I had come to my brother’s marriage and being a devotee of Lord Jagannath, I came to Puri to witness the Rath Yatra.”And what prompted him to serve as a volunteer? “There was no such specific reason. I wanted to serve the pilgrims during the grand festival in my own small way,” replied the techie, who is also a marathon runner and has participated in 14 marathons in the US, wearing the jersey with Odisha written on it.
The Chariot Festival of Lord Jagannath and His siblings that drew lakhs of people to one place on Saturday, was in fact an occasion to celebrate the spirit of humanity. With a sea of devotees thronging the Grand Road to have a glimpse of their favourite Lord, a large number of people, especially youths, were seen working as volunteers and serving them. Several school children wearing NCC and scout uniforms were helping cops in managing the crowd while youths working with voluntary organisations were managing traffic and making passage for ambulances on the Grand Road.
Political poster war
With a few months left for the upcoming general and Assembly elections, this year’s Rath Yatra became the right occasion and Grand Road at Puri the right place for political parties, especially the BJD in State and BJP in Centre, to showcase their strength and highlight their achievements. Among many dignitaries who came to Puri to pay their obeisance to the Trinity, were BJD supremo and CM Naveen Patnaik as well as Union Petroleum Minister and BJP’s poster boy in the state Dharmendra Pradhan. Apart from presence of these heavyweights, the Grand Road was filled with posters and hoardings of BJD and BJP governments and their leaders.
Taking advantage of presence of a huge crowd, the BJD government highlighted its welfare schemes such as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, Housing for Urban Poor and others while the BJP highlighted its pro-people schemes like Ujjwala. A virtual war of posters took place and even the walls of information centres set up to help public during the festival were also replete with banners highlighting government schemes.
Celebration in industrial town
Angul: At Saila Srikhetra in Angul, ‘Pahandi’ was completed at 10.30 am and ‘Chhera Pahanra’ was done by Collector Anil Kumar Samal. Pulling of chariots began at 2.30 pm and the chariot of Devi Subhadra was pulled by women. There was huge gathering at Talcher as well. Here, king Rajendra Chandra Deb conducted the ‘Chhera Pahanra’.
Devotees throng temples
Berhampur: Rath Yatra was celebrated in 239 Jagannath temples in Ganjam district. At Surangi under Chikiti block, chariot will be pulled on Sunday. Although there is no reason behind the delay, it is said that devotees of Surangi return tired after witnessing the Rath Yatra at Puri and hence, they prefer to pull the local chariot a day later. At Sarathi Goasain temple at Jarada, which is dedicated to ‘Sarathi’ of Nandighosha chariot, devotees offered curd and fried paddy to the deity during the celebration.
Different affair
Baripada: The deities of Haribaldevjew temple were taken to their respective chariots in ‘Pahandi’ on Saturday. Here, the festival is a three-day affair. Chariot of Devi Subhadra is pulled by women. While chariot of Lord Balabhadra will be pulled on Sunday, that of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath would reach Mausi Maa temple on Monday.