Chandan Yatra and Chariot Construction Ceremony
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ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Chandan Yatra and Chariot Construction Ceremony Prof. Sarbeswar Kar he socio-cultural activities of Odias are religious rituals. The idols of Madanmohan, Treflected in Jagannath cult. Like human beings Bhudevi, Sridevi, Ramakrushna and Panchu Lord Jagannath gets up early in the morning from Pandav take part in the Chapa or water sports. bed, performs daily activities, takes break-fast, Lord Jagannath follows a schedule for the launch and rests a while during mid-day, goes to Chapa Khela or water sport in the Narendra bed at night. These activities are performed Pushkarini every year. According to the practice, through rituals and offerings at different points of after performance of time during the day. the mid-day puja, Similarly the deities in Lord Jagannath would Puri temple feel move for the water scorching hit during the sports. As a mark of Summer as the humans the beginning of do and to get rid of the Chandan Yatra on the Summer pain, they go auspicious day of out of the people on a Akshay Trutiya. Nitis pleasure trip to a grand like Mangal Alati, pond called Narendra Mailam, Abakash, Puskarini for water Rosha Homa, Surya sports. They, after Puja, Dwarpal Puja, being smeared with sandal paste in order to get Gopal Ballabh and Sakal Dhup are performed the cooling touch, play in the pond which is known and the deities board the bimans or vessels at as Chandan festival. This festival begins on around 12 o’clock and make for the holy pond Akshay Trutiya day and ends on Snana Purnima Narendra Puskarini. day spanning for a period of 42 days every year. On the other hand, the construction of The 21 day long Chandan Yatra of Lord chariots for the deities begins on that day after Jagannath is observed on the day of Akshay receipt of Agyanmala for the same. After the fixing Trutiya at holy town Puri. The Yatra is held at of the time for Nitikanti, Servitors and Shrotriya Narendra Pushkarini in accordance with the Brahmins perform rituals on a 12-feet Dhaura 50 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 wooden log, marking the beginning of the Rath Yatra. The Chandan Yatra which is also known as Gandhalepana Yatra of deities of Sri Jagannath temple is performed for 42 days at the pilgrim town of Puri. The Yatra is observed in two parts: Bahara Chandana and Bhitara Chandana. Bahara Chandana starts from Akshaya Tritiya and continues for 21 days. On the first 21 days the representative idols of the main deities of the Jagannath temple as well as five Shivalingas begin their pleasure trip from the temple in six known as the Pancha Pandavas are taken in a separate palanquins along the Grand Road (Bada procession from the Singhadwara or the Lion Gate Danda) to Narendra tank situated about 1.5 km of the Jagannath temple at Puri to the Narendra away from the temple for sandalwood paste bath Tirtha. After various rituals the deities are placed and boating. With the deities on board the on grandly decorated boats for an evening cruise decorated palanquins are carried over the of the tank. shoulders of a special set of servitors known as The last 21 days include rituals held inside Biman Badu. the temple itself. Instead of the daily cruises, the The temple musicians recite notes of playful ride happens on four occasions, the Geeta Gobinda and Odishi Bhajans. The youths Amavasya, the full moon night, on the Shasthi and of various Jaaga Ghars (schools of martial arts) the Ekadashi of the bright fort night. The deities accompany the deities displaying their skills along go out of the temple to enjoy boating in the the Bada Danda. The rhythmic body movements Narendra tank for 21 days. of palanquin bearers in concert with swinging of As per the religious practice in the the top half of the decorated palanquin, Jagannath temple, Madan Mohan, the particularly of Madan Mohan called representative image of Lord Jagannath “Manivimana” is a rare treat for the pilgrims and accompanied by five Shivalingas go to Narendra devotees. tank, a huge water body in the heart of the city The accompanying devotees in the for a cool bath to beat the scorching summer heat. procession participate in the bathing ritual and join As per the schedule, Madan Mohan, His in grand feast which follows the bathing. The consort Laxmi accompanied by five Shivalingas playing of Odissi ‘Dekha Go Radhamadhaba believed to be incarnation of Panch Pandavas Chali’ (Please see the walking style of Radha and July - 2016 51 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Madhab) on clarinets accompanied by trumpets, Madanmohan accompanied by Devi Bhudevi and cymbals and blowing of conch shells besides Devi Sridevi in one palanquin and idols of Lord display of fireball skill (banati) in the procession Ramkrushna and Pandavas in another palanquin present a splendid scene along the Bada Danda. are taken in a procession from Shree Mandir to the Narendra pond in the afternoon. The deities on their arrival at the Narendra tank are accorded sandal wood paste and En route to the Narendra pond, the aromatic water bath for cooling effect. Then the procession stops in front of Shree Nahara (the deities are taken in procession to their respective Puri king’s palace) on the Grand Road where boats shaped as giant swans. The deities on board move about the tank enjoy the notes and dances of Odissi presented by danseuses on the decks till late in the evening and return to the temple in the same manner and style which were followed at the beginning of their journey time. This scene is repeated everyday and on completion of twenty one days the concluding ceremony known as ‘Bhaunri’ is observed with priests of Shree Mandir along with the Shrotiya display of fireworks and music extravaganza. Brahmins complete all the rituals at the chariot On the other hand, construction of three construction yard.Following the completion of chariots for forthcoming Rath Yatra also begin. Puja, agnyanmalas (order in the shape of Shrotriya Brahmins headed by the temple priest garlands from the Lords to commence chariot perform a Yajna with Nrusingha Mantra in the building for Rath Yatra) are placed on a 12-feet chariot construction yard (Rath Khala) to dhaura log marking the beginning of chariot consecrate the timber logs to be used for construction for Rath Yatra. construction of three chariots. The procession later reaches the Earlier on the Ram Navami day the wood Narendra pond where the idols board two newly logs selected for use in construction are purified built Chapas or boats– Nanda and Bhadra- which by observance of Homa. Amidst singing of are rowed then for a long time by the Sevakas. kirtans and bhajans (devotional songs), sounds Temple dancers dance and sing on the boat during of cymbals and gongs, the idols of Lord the rowing. 52 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 The construction of the chariots starts on well and assume the elephant form on the special Akshaya Trutiya, the third day of the bright bathing platform, close to the Eastern boundary fortnight of Vaisakha, with ritual fire worship. This wall of the temple. From that day the deities takes place in front of the palace of the King of remain in symbolic and ritual convalescence for Puri and opposite the main office of the Puri about two weeks. They are barred from view of temple. On this day, the new agricultural season the ordinary devotees. Only three special patta starts and farmers start ploughing their fields. This chitras, traditional Odia paintings of natural day marks the beginning of the summer festival of colours on cloth stiffened with starch, known as the deities, known as the sandalwood festival or Anasara Pattis, are strung on a bamboo screen Chandan Yatra. In this festival, the representative hiding the deities from public view, can be seen images of the presiding deities are taken out in by the public. During this period, the deities are colourful processions and given a ceremonial boat given only roots, leaves, berries and fruits to cure ride in the Narendra tank everyday. In an them from their indisposition. This ritual is a interesting demonstration of the assimilative reminder of the strong tribal elements in the genesis character of the Jagannatha cult, Madanmohana and evolution of the Jagannatha cult. The progeny and Rama Krushna, representing Jagannatha and of Lalita, daughter of the original tribal worshipper Balaram partake in the festival with the Biswabasu, chieftain of hunters, and the Brahmin representatives’ images of the presiding deities of priest Vidyapati, are known as Daitapatis or five main Shiva temples of Puri. These are Daitas. They have almost exclusive privilege of curiously known as Pancha Pandava, the five serving the Lord during the convalescence and brothers of the Mahabharata story. Later the through the entire period of Ratha Jatra or the deities have a ritual bath in a small temple in the Festival of Chariots. middle of the tank, in stone tubs filled with water, People from different places come to Puri sandalwood paste, scents and flowers. to witness the Chandan Yatra festival of the Trinity. This sandalwood festival culminates in the Even some people stay in Puri from the day of Snana Yatra, the Bathing Festival on the full moon Akshaya Trutiya till the Snana Purnima, the day day of the month of Jyestha. On this day, the of bathing ceremony of the deities. presiding deities descend from their seats on an elevated platform in the sanctum sanctorum, the bejewelled throne. They are bathed in 108 pots Prof.