Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

arada, a tiny spiritual city of ancient Kalinga, Jearlier a Kingdom in Ganjam District under the control of Hyderabad Nizam of the then Madras Presidency. Ganjam, an undivided district which had the border line from Chilka in North to Chikacole (Srikakulam) in South contained not less than 20 feudatory States (Kingdom) of which Jarada was one among these states. Later in the period under British Rule, the then government had abolished the power of these Kings as they campaigned against British Rule and took part in the Indian war of Independence and so they were treated as only Zamidars. It is seen from an ancient book named “Baisnab Smrutisara” written by

Jarada Gada : A Car Festival with a Difference

Dr. Prafulla Chandra Mohanty poet Late Neelakantha Das that the so called Bhubaneswar International Air Port and Jarada was situated near the Northern end of Rangeilunda (Berhampur) helipad station. Jarada Mahendra Giri – one of the world famous 50 Kms only distance from Berhampur City, one mythological important mountains as “Mahendra of the biggest business capital of Odisha. The Girira Nikate, Jarada Nagara Prakate”. journey to Jarada from Bhubaneswar, the state capital will witness the legendary and memorable Jarada is situated at 190 latitude and 840 Asia’s biggest Chilka Lake, Pothagada, the pious longitude. The estate was of 48 square miles. Now Vedic River named Rushikulya, Bahuda and it is under ‘Chikiti’ legislative cconstituency under many more places of natural beauty of tourist Patrapur Block. Berhampur, Ichhapur, Patrapur importance and of spiritual attraction. The place and Chikiti are the towns situated nearby. The is felt more and more attractive for other temples tiny town Jarada was well communicated by of Madan Mohan, Gundicha Temple, Kunjabihari Berhampur (Odisha), Ichhapur (Andhra) Railway Temple, Govinda Swamy, Chandrasekhar, stations, roads and if required one may go to Pulakeswari, Thakurani, Ved Mandir, Mangala,

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Vinayak and Kali Temples. The estate is just at hall were very artistically painted. It was meant the footstep of Jarasandha Mountain, which is still for the employees, servants (Dashis, Paricharies) a part of Mahendra Giri and the inhabitants of the of the estate. Inside the palace the temple of area were mostly the tribals. The great scholarly Radha Krishna, and istadevi “Pulukasuni” are researcher late Satya Narayan Rajguru had stated there. The Shakti Devi Pulukasuni is worshipped that the Valley of Mahendra Giri was inhabited with her great weapon “Sword” (Khanda) which by Jara Sabar and Sudha Sabaras, locally called is named as ‘Pata Khanda’. The Sword is the as Souras. It is also mentioned in the Ganjam courage of every kingly estates and Maa manual – written by T.J. Malt, a Britisher; that ‘Pulukasuni’ remains as the protector (Shakti the son of Biswambar Singh Veer Bhadra Singh Mata) of the estate. Accordingly the Devi is conquered the estate valley after defeating these worshipped with every care and devotion. The Sabaras and established the kingdom named palace is unique because of it’s Sudanga way (A “Jarada’ in 1440 AC. As per the local sayings, it confidential way under the ground) now in ruined is mentioned that Beer Bahadur Singh condition (Rani Mahal). A covered way also Samantaray Mohapatro had defeated and killed linked to Antapur, (queen’s palace). Outsiders the Sabar Chief “Jara” in the war. Before the could not see the goers inside. At the time of death of Jara- the last will of the Jara Sabar was emergency the Sudanga (Gupta Dwara) way is proclaimed that the name of the kingdom will be used for exit of Royal family. after his name Jara and in the future the Jarada, the place is famous for the temple Veerbhadra to perform Sradh and rituals for Jara of Sri Partha Sarathi and of the historical Jarada in time to come. Accordingly, the Valley estate Kingdom. The temple was established by Gajapati was named as Jara Gada – now pronounced as king Purushottam Dev of Puri in the 15th century, Jarada. The kingly family of Jarada estate is still on his way to conquest Kanchi. In the temple Lord offering “Sancha” (Rice, Vegetable, Ghee etc) to Partha Sarathi and the only Jagannath are a Brahmin priest in the name of Jara Sabara while worshipped. Locally the diety Parthasarathi is performing the Sradha (Death anniversary) on the known as Sarathi Gosain. Here Sarathigosain new moon day of Kartika i.e. Mahalaya placed towards south of Dadhibaman Jagannath. Amabasya. The image of Sarathi Gosain has two hands, The royal palace was now in a ruined bearing a conch in his left hand and a rope caught condition situated towards the western part of the to the head of the horse (Lagam) to control chariot estate bounded by a thick brick boundary. Inside along with the Sudarsan Chakra at the top in his the palace the artistic ‘Parthasarathi’ Temple of right hand. The height of the image is 3 feet 6 Jagannath was remained towards north, peasant inches. Here Lord Sarathi Gosain is the main centres towards east, Sulighara in south, the deity, where as Dadhibaman is secondary. There Parisada hall at the front-back entrance of the is a strong belief in the minds of local people is Rajabati. The palace is two-storied used for that if you have money, visit Puri to see Lords dwelling purposes of the king. The palace has the and if you have no money see Sarathigosain of courtyard “Katcheri’ (Darbar hall) at the centre Jarada, both darshan have equal virtue. now in a ruined condition. The pillars of the court Worshipping Sarathigosain is the unique tradition

70 JUNE-JULY - 2018 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 in Ganjam. During car festival a large gathering of Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarsan. But in some devotees are taken place from different corners places where a single murtti of Jagannath of the country especially from the states of Odisha, (Dadhibaman) is the deity of the temple, the car Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal etc. The people festival is carried only with the single Dadhibaman. of the area have a strong belief that the babies But Jarada is the only place where the car festival who are not able to talk, dumb and deaf can talk is carried with two deities like Lord Jagannath very fluently like the sound comes from churning and Lord Krishna (Parthasarathi). This is really of fried peanuts by the grace of Lord unique in the Jagannath culture prevailing in the Parthasarathi. Traditionally it is seen that to get universe. The Lord Parthasarathi reminds the the grace of Lord Parthasarathi, the parents are day of Mahabharat where Lord Srikrishna took offering fried peanuts to the deity and distributing the role of Sarathi, the charioteer / pilot in the the same to the assembled devotees at the time chariot of Parth. of car festival. The car festival of Jarada is an Similar, to other places the car festival is unique one where two deities like Dadhibaman carried on for nine days, the deities are costumed and Parthasarathi are taken together in the chariot in different varied Ten Abataras (Incarnations) like for Jatra, which is also specific in the history of Maschya, Kachhap, Baraha, Nrusingha (Human Jagannath culture throughout India and abroad. body with lion head), Bamana, Parsuram, Ram, In mythology at the time of Mahabharat Balaram, Buddha and Kalki. war which was fought in between Kauravas and Daily Puja : Rituals Pandavas, both parties wanted to get the support of Lord Srikrishna to win over the other and so Parthasarathi temple generally opened Arjuna, (Partha) went to invite Srikrishna. After early in the morning before five. A seavayat (conch a while Duryodhana went to Srikrishna to beg his blower) blows the coanch to awake the support in the war, while Krishna was in sleep. inhabitants of Jarada along with all deities of the So Arjun and Duryodhan were waiting, sitting, temple. Sound of conch is pious and spells all Arjuna at the feet and Duryodhan at the head side. good. First Mangala Alati was given, after that After getting up from sleep Lord Srikrishna first the deities were newly dressed up with silk saw Arujna who was in his direct vision and wished (Pattaluga) and there is a discipline in the colour to support and later saw Duryodhan who was of the dresses of the deities to bear. Like white given his full military support, Krishna himself stay on Monday, red on Tuesday, Green on Wednesday, yellow on Thursday, and again white with Parth (Arjun) in the role of charioteer and on Friday, on Saturday the colour of the costume with the condition of not handling a single weapon is dark black. Whereas on Sunday the Lords are against Kauravas during the war. From that day dressed up with orange red colour. Costumes Lord Srikrishna was known as Parthasarathi (The after dressing and flowering the deites are offered charioteer of Partha). Beside Jarada Parthasarathi balbhogo (breakfast) Khai (fried paddy with temple there is also a temple in the name of Guda). Then the temple is opened for public for Parthasarathi at Chennai in the whole of India. darshan. At 9A.M Khechidi (fried rice) and at Mostly the car festival of Lord Jagannath 12 noon Lunch (Arnna Bhoga) is offered. Like is carried on with Chaturddhamurty i.e. Jagannath, puri the Arnna Prasad is first offered to Bimala,

JUNE-JULY - 2018 71 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review but here the Bhoga Prasad is offered to Car and other Festivals: Patakhanda the goddess and then given to Like Puri, here also numerous festivals devotees as Mahaprasad. are observed from time to time during the year. It After lunch, the deities are to take rest starts from Dolapurnima, Phagukhela (colour (Pahuda) till 3P.M. Again the images are offered festival) of Radha Govinda with Doli Khela, the with Pana (Sweet drink) Kanti (triangular cake) new calendar (Panjika) Puja for the coming year. and Purabadha (a round shape cake). After Bhoga Rathayatra the important festival of the the doors are closed for sometime till evening. Sarathigosain which starts from the day of

There is again Alati, at about 6.30 evening. The Akshaya Trutiya. Then during Devasnan Purnima, Alati was performed with Sapta Salita Deepa the deities bathed with pious sea water collected around the deities one after another, each for from the nearest sea of Baruva an ancient port. seven times. Total 21 times with rounding up in After bathing the deity is in Fever during that the circle of AUM- Pranaba. After Alati, the deities period. Parthasarathi is shifted to his uncle’s were offered with ‘Puli’ (sweet round cake made temple called Govinda Nath. The temple is total up of moong) at evening 8 P.M. The Badasinghara empty without Dadhibaman and Sarathigosain. Bhoga (rice with varied curries) are offered just The deities are again ready for Nabajoubana at the Puri Srimandir, the deities before going to Darshan and which is known as Netrautsava, two sleep. days before the day of Rathayatra, Asadha Sukla

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Dwitiya. A wooden car of 27 feet height and with of Laxmi is being subdued. There is no Sunabesh 8 wheels is ready for Rathayatra. On the day of (decorating with gold ornaments) on the chariot Rathayatra, all the regular Pujas are performed. on Bada Ekadasi day; even though there is rush At about 2P.M, the Sarathigosain is first carried of devotees for darsan of Jagannath and on Pahandi (step by step) to the car and then the Sarathigosain. The rituals of the deities are Dadhi Baman (only Jagannath) for observing the performed by around 30 Sevayats like priests, car festival. The Sevayats, who are carrying the cooks, managers, Kahaliya, Talua, Mrudanga deities to the car they are locally known as Panda. Badak and one Dihudia (lamp bearer). Sevayats After completion of shifting (Pahandi) the deities were working here on a very meager payment Parthasarathi and Jagannath are given alati and earlier by the King but now the management is in then Rajbhgo is offered by the King. After Bhogo, the hands of Endowments Board. Other festivals the Chherapanhara (cleaning and sweeping the like Janmastami, Rasapurnima, Durga Puja, Laxmi surrounding) is performed by the king himself. Puja, Puspa-viseka and Kumarutsav are also The car/chariot is dragged by thousands performed with pomp and gaiety. of devotees to the Gundicha temple. The deities References : again are offered Raj Bhoga. Towards the late  Nayak, Santosh, Jaradagada, Parthasarathi, 2015 night on the same day, the deities are taken to Edn; Sarathi Prasad Nayak, Jaradagada, PIN- Gundicha Ghara and kept there for full nine days. 761005. On these days the Dadhibaman has different  Mishra, Gouri Sankar, Madraraj, 2011, Mardaraj Beshas of Maschya, Kaschhap, Baraha, Mahotsava, P.5 Nrusingha, Bamana, Parsuram, Ram, Balaram,  Mishra, Gouri Sankar, Jarada Parthasarathi, Buddha and Kalki. On the days of Hera Ganjam, Vol VIII; Edn, 2012 Berhampur Pustak Panchami, the Dadhibaman is dressed up as Mela, Samittee, 769005 P-92-98. Nrusingha and the Sarathigosain as Kalki Abatar.  Acharya, Gopinath, Jarada Rajbansa, ek, The chariot is turned towards south on this day. Alokpath – P- 49, Mardaraja, Rajtantra special On the day of Bahuda Yatra (Return Journey), issue, 2008., P.49 the Dadhibaman is dressed up like Ram and  Patra, Rajendra Prasad,Jaradagada P-75-79, Sarathigosain as Laxman his brother. The deities Mardaraj, Janapada. spl-issue, Mardaraj are taken to the south faced chariot for Bahuda Mahotsav- 2014. Yatra. It is a belief that Bibhisan, the brother of  Dora, Gobardhan, “Places of Tourist interest in Ravana is coming for Darshan to Sri Ram, his Odisha : A cultural guide, siksha sandhan, 2014, Lord on the chariot. Bahuda Yatra begins after PP- 39-40, Pahandi and on the same day, both the deities  Odisha Gazetteer – Ganjam P- 929, Culture Dept. are taken to the Ratna Singhasan of the temple Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar. after the Bachanika (quarrelling of Laxmi with Jagannath). Anyway after Bachanika, Lord Jagannath surrendered to Mahalaxmi, offered Dr. Prafulla Chandra Mohanty, Sanskruti Sadan, Bayali, sweets Rasagola and at the end the angry mood Mantridi, Via- Golanthara, Ganjam- 761008.

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