The Apex court announced its decision and people throughout the world rejoiced. For us, Odiyas, Ratha yatra is not just a festival but an emotion with which we are attached since the time of our birth. So when the Supreme Court gave its verdict of not having the festival this time, people around the globe lamented.
“Why did the Lord have to do this ? Why did we have to witness this this year? Maybe Lord is concerned about his devotees so on and so forth”
These questions would create a ripple in our minds, hardly leaving us with any option other than silently praying for things to fall in place. Our prayers were answered when permission to hold the festival without public attendance was granted. Adhering to social distancing norms, very few people would be allowed to pull the vibrant chariots. We couldn’t have been happier.
Jagannath Ratha Yatra or the chariot festival is a nine-day long festival that takes place in Puri, the pious town of Odisha. Along with Puri, it is celebrated at various Lord Jagannath temples across the world. The festival, also known as Shri Gundicha Jatra, is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The huge vibrant rathas or chariots are built in advance. On the said day, the three deities are brought from the temple to their respective chariots. Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called “Nandighosh”, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot is called “Taladhwaja”, and the chariot of Goddess Subhadra is known as “Debadalana”.
Once the deities grace their respective chariots in Pahandi Vijay, the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri performs the Chera Pahara ritual, in which he takes a gold-handled broom and sweeps around the chariots. After this, people with full devotion try to pull these chariots with the help of ropes. Though everyone looks forward to holding that holy rope, only a fortunate few get the chance to do so. The chariots are pulled and the deities are taken to the Gundicha temple, where they stay for nine days, post which they again ride back on these chariots to the temple on the auspicious occasion of Bahuda Jatra.
I would like to mention here that the English word “juggernaut” comes from the hindi word “Jagannath” meaning “Lord of the world.”
No doubt, Ratha Yatra this year was different. Puri wasn’t swarmed with a crowd as it used to be in all these years. Roads weren’t thronged with a fleet of vehicles. People weren’t in a lookout for that one spot from where they could get a glimpse of the Mahaprabhu. Devotees weren’t struggling to catch hold of that holy rope. Streets of Puri took a break from the regular hustle-bustle… but again, that’s the need of the hour.
Our heart might be heavy and mind unruly, but we all need to understand that with the onset of the pandemic, things are not the same anymore. Lord understands the dilemma of his people spread across the world. The supreme creator knows what is apt for his worshipers. Maybe that’s the reason he has decided to come out in a restricted way, only for the sake of his devotees.
Original Source: Visit Now
