1972 - a Miraculous Incident

Orissa Review July - 2010

1972 - A Miraculous Incident

Paresh Rath

An incident that took place at Srikshetra in the Jagannath is worshipped by different tribes in year 1972 washed out the minds of all atheists different names. The Koyas worship the Lord as when inspite of all prayers and requests of the µJaga Raja¶, the Kondhs as µJagaya¶, the Gadabas devotees and servants Lord Jagannnath did not as µJagada¶ and the Sauras or Sabaras as mount the Chariot for the Ratha Yatra. The then µJaganta, Jagaraji, Keitung etc. Sabaras are great CM of Orissa Smt Nandini Satapathy too prayed devotees of Lord Jagannath. Their style of the Lord not be angry on the devotees. Gajapati worshipping the Lord prevails as their older Maharajah Dibyasingha Deba prayed the Lord generations did. For the Adivasis Lord Jagannath to forgive if any mistake is done by the devotees is an incarnation (avatar) of their deity Keitung. and requested the Lord to mount the chariot and They call it ³Jaganta´ (means Lord of the give a Darshan to the mammoth gathering of Universe). The Saoras believe that ³Keitung´ has devotees. ten faces (rupa) : Jaganta, Todo, Tuman, Bhima, Rang Rang, Garshid, Raman, Jojepal, Matta and This was the year when the first car Titti. With love the Saoras call their Lord of grace festival of Koraput was observed where thousands as ³Jaga Boie´ (Boie means Lord). Lord of tribals gathered to have a Darshan of the Lord Jagannath is known as Madala. Even today and to pull the chariot. Later when Lord mounted Sabaras worship and do Madala puja. Wherever on the chariot at Srikshetra Puri, his close tribals see Lord Jagannath they see a vibrant icon devotees including bada panda said that Lord had gone to Koraput for a shower of blessings in Him. Actually this sensation comes among the for His intimate Sabara devotees as they are His tribal communities because Lord Jagannath own people and awaited to see Him on the Rath belonging to them can be called Savara Devata. for the first time at Koraput after the new Sabara Fifteen days before the Car Festival the devotees Srikshetra temple constructed. do not get Darshan of the Lord. This period is called ³anasara´ (period of confinement). Legends One who visits Koraput will experience relate that during this period gods become ill and and feel the presence of the divine almighty. Even nobody except the µDaitas¶ are allowed to serve today after so much of industrialisation and the Lord, proves that they are the close modernisation the place has its beauty with hill counterparts of the Lord. The Daitas are the tracks, rivers, streams, forests and greenery. Lord descendants of the Savara King Biswabasu. Thus

70 Orissa Review July - 2010 this indicates the µSavaras¶ are the near and dear was invited to do the job. The man Budura who one for the Lord, who take care of Him during performed the job was later known that he was a illness. This might be one reason why Lord village head and Sabara from the nearby village Jagannath is called Savara Devata. At Puri, the and a most respectable man in that area. From Srikshetra of Orissa, the three Chariots are that day the system is continuing and every year a sweeped by Maharaja Gajapati, the King. This tribal chief performs the job during car festival at ritual was known as µChhera Pahanra¶ while at Koraput. At the Sabara Srikshetra Ratha Yatra Koraput Chhera Pahanra is performed by a tribal. one can see the interest of the tribals to pull the This ritual was started since the first car festival at car. Some tribals will be found pulling a piece of Koraput in the year 1972 after Lord Jagannath thread from the rope tied on the car, some ,who had arrived at Koraput with a miraculous touching it to their head while some others kissing happening for the Adivasis¶ faith in Him. The first it with love. A huge crowd of devotees from the car festival of Koraput is important to remember hilly terrain and inaccessible villages will definitely as thousands of poor, shelterless and come out once during Ratha Yatra to see their downtrodden , who have never seen Puri or have Lord on the Rath. Notable fact is the role of never got a chance to visit Puri, were waiting with Adivasis in the management of the temple works. great anxiety to see the Lord of the Universe They assist the cooks in kitchens, bring water and who will come out of the temple and mount on materials from stores for the everyday Puja in the the µRath¶ (Chariot). Lord will mount on the temple. They arrive in thousands from distant Chariot. Now where the Chariot will move ? villages to serve the Puja during the car festivel. Since Koraput is a hill station with all the up and The Koraput temple management committee down roads . The only plain road available was sends special invitations to the villages before the NH 43 . It was then decided to move the chariot Ratha Yatra begins. The system of invitation is on the NH from near the NH office to the done by sending Supari( gua) as we send to invite Gundicha temple on the Koraput Rayagada road. our kith and kins. The tribals reach the temple (The Bada Danda of Koraput) . Thousands of premises in advance and take up their tribals from different parts of Koraput district were responsibility. From supplying water at the kitchen seen in the crowd. Groups of people belonging to preparation of the ³Bhog¶the tribals are seen to different tribal communities gathered in their engaged. On the Yatra day Tribal groups from traditional costumes dancing and chanting tribal Bonda, Koya, Lanjia Saura and Paraja perform hymns to pull the car. The temple management dancing near the chariot as it moves. On behalf committee was confused as to who will perform of the temple managing body tribal chiefs of the job of µChhera Pahanra¶(sweeping of the car), different villages are felicitated on the Car Festival the duty performed by Gajapati Maharaja at Puri. day with presentation of a Sirpa (a head gear). The legend which was established at Koraput on the Lord¶s arrival for the Adivasi¶s faith in Him came to everybody¶s mind. Suddenly it was decided that the sweeping will be performed by Paresh Rath a Journalist who lives at Jeypore, a tribal and accordingly a man from the crowd Dist.- Koraput.

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