Story Part 4 : Believes of History 'Still Alive', celebrated as Jagannath Rath Yatra

Lord Jagannath was the deity of the tribals. If we observe the sculpture of the idol, the idols have specific features just the way tribal statues have. This is due to the cultural heritage. Odisha is one of the major states where we have significant tribal population. The significance of tribal sculpture in the most revered deity of the state signifies the importance of tribal heritage.

Rath Yatra is the annual car festival of Lord Jagannatha in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Lady Shubhadra visit queen Gundicha in the Gundicha temple two miles away from the Jagannath temple. Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra go to Gundicha temple by their individual chariots. The chariot of Jagannath is called Nandighosha or Garudadhwaja or Kapiladhwaja. The chariot of Balabhadra is Taladhwaja or Langaladhwaja. Tha chariot of Subhadra is called Darpadalana or Devadalana or Padmadhwaja. The annual car festival takes place on the 2nd day of Shukla-Paksha of Asadha month.

While returning from Gundicha temple, Lord Jagannath stays in Mausi Maa temple (Goddess Ardhashini). After staying seven days, Lord Jagannath returns to Jagannath temple. Since Lord Jagannath goes to Gundicha temple without taking Lady Mahalakshmi with him, it is believed that Lady Mahalakshmi curses Lord Jagannath- that it will rain that day and Lord Jagannath will get drenched. Most of the times, it actually rains during the car festival.

When Lord Jagannath returns to his temple, Maa Mahalakshmi remains angry on him and locks the Jai Vijay Dwar to stop the convoy from entering the temple. To appease her, Lord Jagannath offers her Rasgulla. This ritual is known as Niladri Bije, and yes Rasgulla is an Odia sweet-dish.

July 15, 2018