It was 1975, the International Women’s Year. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had her grip over the nation through Emergency and Odisha had a woman Chief Minister in Nandini Satpathy. A new tradition symbolising women empowerment was born in the quaint town of Baripada in Mayurbhanj district. Only women were allowed the privilege of pulling the chariot of Goddess Subhadra during the festival of Rath Yatra.
According to the locals, during mid-1950s, a woman devotee was severely injured while trying to touch the rope of one of the chariots. A good samaritan, who rescued her from being trampled to death, was moved by the plight of the women devotees. He requested the district administration to give the prerogative of pulling Devi Subhadra’s chariot exclusively to women.
Finally, former collector and district magistrate of Mayurbhanj Vivekananda Patnaik accepted the proposal and allowed women to pull the particular chariot in 1975. Eminent women leaders like Indumati Pati, Chandrika Mohapatra and Kalpana Sarangi had responded to this unique thought and come forward to start the gender-specific event.
On Thursday, thousands of devotees thronged Bada Danda, the Grand Road leading to the Harbaldev Jew temple to pull the chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The car festival here is considered second in importance, next only to Puri. Unlike Puri, the festival at Baripada, however, continues for 13 days.
While on the Rath Yatra day, only ‘pahandi’ of deities is performed, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra is pulled to the Mausima temple and Devi Subhadra’s chariot half of the distance on the second day. Lord Jagannath’s chariot is pulled on the third day after Subhadra reaches her aunt’s abode.
“Call it a tradition or women empowerment, Baripada Rath Yatra is a novel affair where women only get the chance to pull the chariot of Devi Subhadra. This town has set an example for others,” said Textiles and Handloom Minister Sarojini Hembram.
The Jagannath temple at Baripada, known as Haribaldev Jew temple, was built by Maharaja Baidyanath Bhanja Dev in 1575 AD. The temple is a symbol of religious fervour of the Bhanja rulers of Mayurbhanj, regarded as the ‘Queen Monad’ among the princely states before they were merged with the Indian Union.
- The Sunday Standard