Women Only Pull Jagannath's Chariot In Orissa

[Guest guest]

(July 3, 2005): The Puri Ratha yatra is world famous, but nowhere-

else in the world is the Rath yatra held the way it is observed in

Baripada in northern Orissa, because it is the women who get priority

here in act and spirit! Although the Ratha Yatra is famous the world

over for Lord Jagannath it is his younger sister Goddess Subhadra

whose chariot is pulled here before the Lord's. And that too only by

women!

 

Prior to 1975 women found it difficult to even come near the ropes of

the chariot, but today women pulling goddess Subhadra's chariot

reflects the rich and distinct cultural heritage of Mayurbhanj where

even the traditional martial dance of Chhau is open to women now.

 

There is an interesting legend about the origin of Baripada Ratha

Yatra. Baidyanath Bhanja the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj had gone to Puri

in the sixteenth century to have a `darshan' of Lord Jagannath; but

for reasons about which there are conflicting versions, he was denied

entry into Puri. The disappointed king went on penance to the

outskirts of Puri and the Lord Jagannath came in his dream and

ordered him to construct a temple at Baripada where the Lord would

appear to give `darshan' to his devotees.

 

Accordingly the king Baidyanath Bhanja returned to his kingdom and

built the temple for the Lord known as the Haribaladev temple in 1575

AD. Hari incidentally is another name for Jagannath and Baladev is

Lord Balaram, elder brother of Lord Jagannath.

 

SOURCE: Deccan Herald

FULL STORY:

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jul32005/finearts11478200572.

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