Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in Puri has started and devotees are seen pulling the three wooden chariots that carry Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are underway. The world-famous Rath Yatra is being celebrated today on July 7 this year. Like every year, lakhs of bhakts thronged to Puri to witness Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, one of the biggest religious festivals of Bharat.
To ensure the smooth conduct of Rath Yatra, preparations by the State Government and administration have been done. On Aashadh Shukla Paksh Dwitiya Tithi, Mahaprabhu Jagannath along with Balbhadra and Devi Subhadra visit Mausi Gundicha’s house for a week. During this annual festival, lakhs of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion throng to have a look at the deities on the road and pull the ropes of the wooden chariots from the main gate of Puri temple to Gundicha Temple situated three kilometers away. According to the scholars of Jagannath Sanskruti, Rath Yatra is celebrated every year at Puri and offers an opportunity to all people regardless of their caste, creed, or religion, to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu of the universe has manifested himself in different names. He is Keshav in Mathura, Madhav in Prayag, Madhusudan in Mandar, Padmanava in Anandaranya, Vishnu in Vishnukanchi, Hari in Mayapur. But in Puri, He is Jagannath, the Nath of the whole Jagat. The Rath Yatra being the greatest festival of the Prabhu is another way to emancipate the human being from material bondage. Dole tu dolagovindam Chape tu Madhusudanam Rathe tu Bamanam drustva Punarjanmam na vidyate.
(It means the atma attains moksha if one comes across the sight of Dolagobinda playing Holi, Madhusudan enjoying a boat ride and Jagannath moving in His Rath.)
The festival is a universal one. Here the so-called untouchables, so-called social outcasts, and the downtrodden mingle together with the so-called upper castes at Badadanda (Grand Road). The system of Chhera-Panhara done by the Gajapati kings of Odisha reminds us of Rajdharma for the service of God and man. Thus, the concept that the king as the first among the equals gets strengthened.
Relevance of Chariot
The chariot of Balabhadra, known as Taladhvaja, consists of 14 wheels and is decorated with blue and red clothes, ploughs, a bunch of corn and Purna Kumbha (a full pitcher). The car represents creativity and agriculture that are the root cause of human prosperity. It symbolises the royal qualities of human life or Rajabhava.
The chariot of sister Subhadra, known as Darpadalana, consists of 12 wheels and marked by talabhava or balanced qualities of human life. Hence, the darkish presentation. The 12 months are imaginatively fixed with a commensurate number of wheels which help in carrying the programme of creativity inaugurated by elder brother Balabhadra. The 16-wheeled Nandighosh chariot of Mahaprabhu Jagannath is represented by Sattvabhava or serene and holistic qualities covered with yellow clothes. He is the master of Sohala kala or all 16 qualities needed for human life. Hence, the 16 wheels Snana Purnima
It is believed that Mahaprabhu Jagannath was born on Jyeshtha Purnima or Snana Purnima. On Snana Purnima every year, Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are given holy showers with 108 pots of water. On the same evening, deities fall sick due to excessive baths and they remain in a 15-day quarantine in Anasara Gruha or a quarantine room. Then after treatment by Vaidyas, they are cured. According to experts, deities give Nabayouban Darshan to devotees. Nabayouban Darshan refers to the youthful reappearance of deities, who kept themselves confined to Anasara Gruha or a quarantine room after Snana Purnima. After Nabayouvan Darshan, deities go to their Mousi’s house at Gundicha Temple.
Meticulous Planning
The State Government as well as Shree Jagannath Temple Administration worked hard for the smooth celebration of this year’s Rath Yatra. Three chariots are being constructed.
Shri Jagannath Temple managing committee, in its meeting held on June 25, approved Rath Yatra’s schedule prepared and proposed by Chhatisha Nijog and the sub-committee for temple rituals.
As per the prepared schedule, on July 7, rituals began with Mangal Alati at 2 AM and Netra Utsav Bandhapana will be performed at 4 AM. The Daitapati servitors will carry out Chhenapatta Lagi Seva from 7.30 AM to 12 PM.
Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Balabhadra will be brought from the sanctum sanctorum to their respective chariots in the pahandi bije ritual between 1.10 PM and 2.30 PM, when the devotees will finally be able to catch a glimpse of Him after Snana Purnima on June 22.Chhera Pahanra by Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb is scheduled for 4 PM. Devotees will start pulling the chariots at 5 PM. The chariot pulling will be halted at 6 PM and resumed the following day.
While reviewing arrangements for Rath Yatra in Puri in a high-level meeting on June 17, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi instructed officials to ensure meticulous planning and execution to facilitate smooth celebration of Rath Yatra. He emphasised the importance of implementing comprehensive measures to guarantee the safety and well-being of the pilgrims who are expected to come from across the country and even abroad to Puri. He urged the State administration to focus on various aspects including timely completion of rituals, crowd management, security, health care facilities, and sanitation to provide a comfortable and secure environment for the devotees throughout the festival.
Railway to Run Special Trains
About 150 special trains were run to Puri during the Rath Yatra festival. This was informed in the meeting of the Rath Yatra preparation committee, chaired by Odisha Law Minister Prithwiraj Harichandan, on June 26. Additionally, bus service to Puri will be increased to meet the demands of devotees for Rath Yatra. As many as 18 temporary parking places will be developed for the pilgrim buses at various places in and around Puri town. The State Government has asked to ensure supply of drinking water and continuous power supply during Rath Yatra. CCTV cameras will be installed at various strategic locations to monitor the crowd from an integrated control room. Hundreds of live guards will be deployed along the Puri sea beach to prevent drowning in the sea. Similarly, the Health administration has been asked to keep ready hundreds of beds for stroke victims as well as beds in the burn ward of the hospitals. They are also directed to deploy an adequate number of doctors and other medical staff.
