Bali Jatra of Sonepur

Orissa Review for Malli flower and handloom Sambalpur is about 80 textile. Everybody has been kilometers, Bolangir is 50 Bali Jatra of shedding crocodile tears for the kilometers and Boudh is 50 heritage locations in Odisha. kilometers away from Sonepur. Sonepur Despite all the hype and hoopla It is on the National Highway by the Government over the No 224. Remember the development of heritage sites Sonepur palace. The ruins form and tourism spots, most popular the background for the Dr. Chitrasen Pasayat destinations of Odisha are traditional Bali Jatra. Here, gradually losing popularity. history repeats itself every year Temple town Sonepur is such with barua, with dhulia, with old a place. The declined trend is audience, with new faces. Sonepur is known for the more likely associated with the One may find persons Samadhi Pitha of Bhima Bhoi intrinsic problems like poor who do not believe in at Khaliapali village. It was infrastructure, marketing, bad supernatural power. But, one great feeling when I was told it condition of connecting roads cannot ignore the fact that, a is the same location where and inability to gauge the need µbelief system¶ on power Bhima Bhoi spent his last days. of tourists. An old man of superior to human being has I will always cherish that Sonepur once told me always played a vital role in experience. Bhima Bhoi was a something that disturbed me society¶s survival and growth much loved folk poet whose deeply, ³Even the local people since time immemorial. One soulful verses are still sung by are not showing any concern to finds some visual ritual many including the gifted and protect their heritage. performances in Sonepur popular Odia singers, who Architectural treasures in through which the idea or drew inspiration from Bhima Sonepur get vandalized. It is message of this power superior Bhoi¶s poetry. His poems are due to the greed of man, who to human being is spread to to simply teach the love of God without valuing his own rich others. During my research and the prophet without heritage and without caring for work an old lady said, ³I wish becoming enmeshed in future generations is busy in for my children to visit Sonepur theological debate. Such verses destroying his own heritage and on this occasion and be a part written in the local Odia tradition.´ of this tradition. The idea language were a bridge to the behind my desire is very simple. Sonepur is situated on masses who were not learned It is as simple as to bring back the confluence of two rivers in Sanskrit, the language of the my children to the path of namely the Mahanadi and the elite. spirituality and repose their faith Tel. It is the headquarter town in religious beliefs´. Like Varanasi and of Sonepur district, created in Bhubaneswar, Sonepur is 1993. It is situated about 279 Sonepur has been the known for its temples. It is also kilometers away from the state land of Shakti worship since known for the river Mahanadi, capital Bhubaneswar via time immemorial. Bali Jatra is its water and boat. It is Nayagarh and about 310 an annual festival of Sonepur recognized for fish, for Matha, kilometers via Redhakhol. related to Shakti worship. It is 18 October - 2010 Orissa Review celebrated in the Hindu month of Aswina (September- October) from Amavasya Tithi or Mahalaya (New moon day) to Purnami Tithi (Full moon day). It continues for 16 days. It is a folk religious festival where various nitis are properly planned and prescribed for different Tithis (days). On this occasion, the Barua represents the deity to whom the people worship. He moves from temple to temple and from place to place dancing common people believe it a When Madan Gopal left vigorously with the beating of proud privilege to be linked with Sambalpur for Sonepur, he Dhol, Nisan and Ghant. this significant traditional event brought with him Pata- The literary meaning of of Sonepur. Nowadays, this Khanda, Dola-Khanda, Jatra is travelling. Different yearly Bali Jatra has not only Pata- Maheswari, deities leave their temples established itself as an accepted Bhubaneswari and Bahuta during Bali Jatra and make folk festival in its native land but Chhatra and initiated Bali journey to various places to be also known as one of the Jatra in Samaleswari, worshipped by the people as appealing and attractive Khambeswari and Sureswari per the prevailing tradition. This festivals in the neighbouring temples of Sonepur. But as per is the reason that this festival is areas including Sambalpur, the oral tradition, human called Jatra. Our subsequent Bolangir and Boudh. sacrifice was prevalent during analysis reveals the fact that, Bali Jatra is replete Bali Jatra in olden days. This Bali or animal sacrifice is the with stories of persons whose reminds us the Meriah sacrifice essential part of this ritual. work has created and of Kandhas of this area. Hence, this festival is known as established Bali Jatra as an Prior to Chauhan rule Bali Jatra. Bali means institution and furthered the in Sonepur, this area was under sacrifice, which is as old as growth and popularity of this the Bhanja of Baudh. There human race. The essence of Jatra. It is said that Bali Jatra were tribal chiefs of Kandha sacrifice emerges from the started in Sonepur during the origin in Sonepur region. belief that, the sacrifice brings reign of Raja Madan Gopal Sambalpur Raja Balaram Dev gain to the sacrificers and their Singh Deo (1635-1660), who (1605-1630) defeated the king community. What is sacrificed was the first Chauhan Raja of Siddha Bhanja of Baudh. As a losses itself by being slain. The Sonepur. He received Sonepur result, Bhanja surrendered the loss of the sacrificed victim is as his Bhai-Bhaga i.e. shares. Sonepur region, which was somehow seen as bringing gain Accordingly, Sonepur was annexed to Sambalpur to the sacrificers. Every year, created as a separate kingdom. kingdom. Subsequently, his October - 2010 19 Orissa Review Jatra is noteworthy and worth mentioning. Jatra begins from Samaleswari temple on the night of Amabasya i.e. new moon day in the Hindu month of Aswina (September- October). The deity ascend through two non-Brahmin human beings i.e. Thanapati Barua Dangua and Keunt Barua. The traditional musical instrument namely Dhol plays an important role. It is the Khambeswari Temple Bharni-Par which is played at the time of ascending the deity second grand-son Madangopal noted historian B. C. through the Barua. The ritual was made the Chief of this Majumdar, the wife of Raja continues amidst the high newly acquired territory of Rajsingh Deo had initiated this sounding beat of Dhol,Muhuri Sonepur (Senapati and festival in Sonepur. Raja and Ghanta. The literary Mahanti, 1971: 62; Sahu, 1985: Rajsingh Deo had married the meaning of Bharni is pouring 14). In view of this, it may be princess of Khemendi. The or transferring. Barua is the suggested that, Bali Jatra was newly married wife of the king person who holds the deity in prevalent even earlier. had brought with her the his body. The Barua becomes However, Madan Gopal was wooden image of Bali after the deity appears in the first Raja of Sonepur where Khambeswari and started the his body. Barua is often known he established a new chain of worship of the deity in Sonepur. to be in a trance, a state of Chauhan dynasty. Subsequently, Raja Rajsingh spiritual bliss attained through music and dancing. In other It is pertinent to Deo had constructed the words, the deity or the unseen mention that worship of present Khambeswari temple celestial power is transferred to Khambeswari is believed to be in honour of the deity. the body of Barua. Here the the earliest form of Sakti As it has been noted meaning of Bharni-Par lies. It worship in West Odisha. It is above, these three Sakti causes to flow the divine power prevalent since fourth century. Pithas are the main centres of to the human body of the It is difficult to ascertain the Bali Jatra in Sonepur. Role of Barua. In other words, the exact time of worship of Brahmin priest during Bali deity ascends through him. Khambeswari in Sonepur, Jatra is insignificant and When the deity appears in the which is considered to be an unimportant. On the other body of Barua, at that time he earliest seat of Khambeswari. hand, function and meaning of loses his sense and acts Nevertheless, according to the non-Brahmin priests in this according to the direction of the 20 October - 2010 Orissa Review unseen force. Here he is temple and the deity leaves his Chaturthi Tithi is a addressed as Maa. People body at the twin poles (Juda significant day of Bali Jatra. On worship him (deity in the body Khamba) near the temple. this day, the Barua collects of the Barua), ask him various It is not out of place to sacred soil from the Khaul- questions to solve their mention that, the neighbouring Gad, situated near Sureswari problems and the deity replies districts of Boudh and Phulbani temple. This niti is called them accordingly. It is said that are Kandha dominated areas. Khaul-Phita. This Khaul-Gad Bali can foretell the past, Before 1993 i.e. the year of is located under a tree near the present and future of the partition, Boudh and Phulbani pond of the temple. At night, devotees on prayer. were under one district animal is sacrificed here. This The Brahmin priest administration named is known as Khaul-Bali. It is a hands over the Kala-Bauti Kandhamal i.e.

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