Jeypore to continue with unique tradition, will pull chariot today
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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.
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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.
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