Lessons learnt, ‘Pahandi' takes place smoothly
1
2
3
Puri: There was relief all round as 'Pahandi', a key ceremonial procession involving the transfer of idols from the shrine to the chariots, passed off smoothly.
Officials were particularly concerned due to last year's incident, when Lord Balabhadra's idol slipped from servitors' grasp and fell on the 'Charamala', a slanting walkway made of palm logs, while being transferred from the Taladhwaja chariot to Gundicha Temple, two days after Rath Yatra.
"Following revised standard operating procedures, dedicated Pahandi groups comprising skilled servitors were established. The Charamala's structure was enhanced with increased width, allowing servitors to safely transport the substantially heavy wooden idols onto the chariots," said Arabinda Kumar Padhee, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.
Despite concerns about the 'Charamala' becoming slippery due to the light rain, the servitors completed 'Pahandi' without facing any hurdle.
"We will ensure that the Pahandi is performed in the same disciplined manner when the deities are escorted to Gundicha Temple from the chariots," Padhee said.
Learning from last year, the administration had recently announced that only authorised servitors would be permitted to perform 'Pahandi' and board the chariots.
"The implementation failed (last year) as servitors exceeded prescribed numbers during Pahandi.
The chariots were overcrowded. The temple administration failed to evict unauthorised servitors from chariots," said Binayak Mishra, a local devotee.
Puri district collector and temple's deputy chief administrator, Siddharth Shankar Swain, said, "All rituals including Pahandi were performed smoothly. After the festival, we will check CCTV footage to see if any ineligible person had boarded the chariot."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Jeypore to continue with unique tradition, will pull chariot today
1 2 Koraput: While the state celebrates Rath Yatra on Friday, the temple town of Jeypore in Koraput district continues to observe a unique tradition, pulling of the chariots a day later even though all other rituals, such as Pahandi and Chhera Pahanra, are conducted on the same day as the main festival. Though there is no official or documented historical evidence supporting this deviation, the practice has over the years given rise to a blend of local legends, cultural beliefs and royal anecdotes. According to senior academician Prafulla Padhi, the origins of the custom may be traced back to the time when the Jeypore royal palace was situated at Puranagada, on the town's outskirts. "In those days, the Rath Yatra was held at Puranagada and bethias (bonded labourers) were employed to pull the chariots. After the palace shifted to present-day Jeypore, the festival was observed at both locations. The bethias used to first complete the chariot pulling at Puranagada on Rath Yatra day and would then arrive in Jeypore the next day to pull the chariots there," he said. Although the zamindari system was abolished decades ago and the practice of engaging bethias discontinued, the second-day chariot pulling has remained an entrenched tradition in Jeypore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cervecería Nacional CFD: Calcula cuánto podrías ganar invirtiendo solo $100 Empieza a invertir Inscríbete ahora Undo Another popular belief attributes the practice to an unspecified tragic event in the royal family that once took place on Rath Yatra day, prompting a shift in the timing of the festival. However, this theory remains unsupported by documentary evidence. Adding to its uniqueness, the chariots used in Jeypore differ from the traditional Rekhadeula-style architecture seen elsewhere in the state. Instead, they are built in the Mukhasala style and the deities rest on the raths for an entire day before proceeding to the Gundicha temple on the second day. Historical sources suggest that the original chariots once stood as tall as 60ft, supported by 16 wheels and pulled using 60m-long ropes made from a special plant fibre. While the design has been preserved over time, the current chariots measure about 45ft in height, 22ft in width and run on eight wheels. Officials said that as thousands prepare to gather for the ceremonial pulling of the chariots on the second day, the administration has taken all precautionary measures to ensure an incident-free festival. 'The Jeypore Rath Yatra continues to stand out as a confluence of royal legacy, tribal heritage and enduring tradition. Adequate arrangements, including security, drinking water, health teams and sanitation workers, have been made to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience," Chittranjan Patnaik, tehsildar-cum-endowment officer (Jeypore), said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Devotees pull chariots as Rath Yatras rolls out with fanfare
Prayagraj: Several grand Rath Yatras of Lord Jagannath were taken out in the Sangam city on Friday with full splendour amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath'. Shri Jagannath Ji Mahotsav Trust took out a yatra starting from Arya Bhawan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It passed through Hatkeshwar Temple, Agrasen Crossing, Chamelibai Inn, Johnstonganj, Ghantaghar, Loknath, Bahadurganj, Ram Bhawan, Mutthiganj, Hatia Police Booth, Baas Mandi and ended at Kasiraj Nagar. Along with Lord Jagannath's Nandi Ghosh Rath and Vijay Dwaj, chariots of Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesh, Lord Garun, Sapta Rishi, Lord Vishnu, Panch Pandav, Erawat elephant, Radha-Krishna, Krishna-Balram, Lord Khatu Shyam, and Sita Ram, along with bands from Jhalandhar, were part of the yatra. Along with the chariot, tableaux of Mahakal Bhasm Aarti, Vrindavan Maharas, Kashi Mradang-dhol and Damru Vadan were also taken out. "Scores of devotees pulled the chariot's rope throughout the yatra. Devotees performed Lord Jagannath's aarti at various places. Along with this, people served prasad on the way," yatra convenor Rajesh Kesarwani told TOI. In Shringverpur, a Rath Yatra was rolled under the aegis of Shri Tulsi Sahitya Prachar Samiti and Shringverpur Teerth Kshetra Trust. The chariot of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra was pulled by the devotees as per the tradition. During the yatra, hundreds of devotees immersed themselves in the colours of devotion and danced on the tunes of musical instruments and conch shells. Jagannath Swami's Rath Yatra was taken out from Vanvasi Shriram Vishram Ashram, Shringverpur Dham, to Shriram Sandhya Math Ashram located at Shriramghat. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per Vedic rituals, the yatra began after performing Naugraha, Kalash Puja, and worshipping Lord Ram, Goddess Janaki and Lord Lakshman as per the time of Nakshatra Mandals. Shringverpur Dham Peethadheeshwar Mahant Ramprasad Das Shastri Maharaj performed the aarti and placed the idols in the chariot. The yatra left for the dham of Shree Gundicha, where Lord Jagannath rests after reaching his aunt's house. Before reaching Shri Ram Sandhya Math Ashram Shriram Ghat, Jagannath Swami was welcomed with flowers. Meanwhile, Shri Jagannath Ji Rath Yatra Mahotsav Samiti (Bada Rath) also took out a Rath Yatra with full pomp and show. Apart from colourful religious flags, tableaux of Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Krishna-Leela, and the chariot of Lord Jagannath were taken out. A large number of devotees pulled the Rath, and mayor Ganesh Kesarwani was heading the procession.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jagannath Rath Yatra held with devotion & tradition
Ludhiana: Not caring about the scorching heat and humid weather, people belonging to the Oriya community, who have been staying in the industrial town for over two decades, organised the Jagannath Rath Yatra on Friday. This event followed the pattern of the Yatra, which is organised every year in Puri. The devotees were preparing for this Rath Yatra for the past two months. Barefoot and sweating profusely, the devotees brought Lord Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra out of the Jagannath Temple in Chander Nagar so that devotees could pay obeisance to their beloved God. Flower petals were showered on the idols by the devotees all around. The road from the temple to the chariot was properly washed with water before bringing the idols. It is a belief among the devotees that Lord Jagannath comes out of the temple for nine days and stays at their 'Massima' house for these many days. People from any religion and community can come and take his blessings for these nine days. The devotees were full of enthusiasm and vibrant with energy to celebrate the day. First, they brought out the Lord Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra idols from the temple and made them sit on the rath, especially prepared for this day. They followed all the traditions which are followed in the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The devotees were taking blessings from Lord Jagannath while the idol was being brought out of the temple and established on the chariot decorated with flowers. They were dancing and chanting "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna", "Hari Bol Hari Bol", to fill energy among other devotees and nearby residents of the area who were also immersed in the devotion. Before starting the Yatra, the road is cleaned with a broom made of gold, and then it moves towards the designated areas. It started in the afternoon, and the chariot passed through areas like Chander Nagar, Old Court Chowk, Dandi Swami Chowk, Haibowal Chowk, and ended again in Chander Nagar, where the three idols were brought to the Massima house, also called the Gundicha Temple. For the next eight days, devotees will worship the Lord there, and then He will go back to the Jagannath Temple.
