Deities embark on boat chariot procession in Chilika
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Bhubaneswar: In a distinctive departure from traditional Rath Yatra, the holy trinity of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra embarked on a unique water-borne sojourn at Kankan Sikhari, an islet in Chilika lagoon, on Friday.
The deities are placed on a specially designed chariot mounted on three interconnected boats.
"After the ceremonial Pahandi ritual, we took the deities to the chariot mounted on boats at 1pm. The divine procession circumnavigated the islet while devotees and priests chanted hymns and beat gongs during the journey. At 2.15pm, we brought the deities from the boat to a mandap on the islet," said Susanta Kumar Sahoo, president of the Shree Jagannath Leelakshetra Trust, which manages the temple affairs.
He said the most crucial aspect is maintaining balance during the procession. "Skilled boat riders carefully manoeuvred the structure to prevent any accident. In Puri and other places, deities are brought out of the chariots on the next day of Rath Yatra. But we bring them out on the same day and keep them at a mandap in front of the temple for nine days before Bahuda Yatra," said Sahoo.
Debendra Dash, secretary of the trust, said two buses were arranged for devotees from Bhubaneswar to participate in the festival in Chilika.
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"More than 250 people attended the festival. Many influencers and YouTubers from different parts of the state recorded the event with their drone cameras for those who could not attend the festival," he added.
The islet, around 85km from Bhubaneswar, is accessible only by boat from Nairi in Khurda district. According to legends, in 1731, when Mughal Taqi Khan attacked the Jagannath Temple in Puri, idols of the sibling deities were hidden at Kankan Sikhari for 4 months and 16 days.
The islet derives its name from 'Kankan' or 'Kankada' (spine gourd), which was offered to the deities during their stay.
"Earlier, the idols were carried on a simple boat, but visibility was an issue due to lack of eight. In 2022, we innovated by creating a 25-ft-tall chariot mounted on three boats," said Sahoo.
The festival, which began to be held in the islet in 2017, draws thousands of devotees. "Out of curiosity, many attend to see how Rath Yatra is organised on boat," said Arabinda Das, a member of the trust.
The site has witnessed developments over the years, including the construction of a community hall by the Chilika Development Authority, installation of a solar power system, and an iron shed near the mandap. The islet also houses a wheel from Lord Jagannath's Nandighosh chariot, received from Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri, in 2016.
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