Pulling Devi Subhadra's chariot

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All the Goddess women

The Deccan Herald

June 28, 2008

Sarojini Nayak

 

Women pulling the chariot of Devi Subhadra during the

Car festival at Jagannath temple is a sight to cherish.

This could be an indication to changing times.

 

If the sight of hundreds of women draped in identical

sarees pulling the chariot of Devi Subhadra during the

Car festival organised by the Jagannath temple at

Cuttack last year surprised spectators, it is only an

indication of the changing times and trends. The Rath

Yatra - perhaps one of the most sacred festivals of

Orissa - has more or less been confined to men (women

devotees were mere spectators), and this significant

development speaks volumes for the changing status of

women. And, the beginning of this trend can be traced to

a small town in Orissa.

 

While the temple town of Puri hosts the biggest Rath

Yatra, the second biggest festival is the one held in

Baripada, a small town in Northern Orissa. Here, not

only is the festival different but the most unique feature

is that the chariot of goddess Subhadra is pulled only by

women, thus adding more colour and festivities to the

celebrations. [....]

 

The Rath yatra in Baripada is a three day affair and in

several ways different from the one held in Puri and

other places. For instance, all the three chariots are not

pulled on the same day. On the first day, only pahandi

takes place. It is a ritual when the deities are brought out

of the temple in a procession and installed on the

chariots. On the second day, Lord Balabhadra's chariot

is pulled to the Gundicha temple, while Subhadra's

chariot is drawn and left half way. On the third day, first

Subhadra's chariot is pulled to the Gundicha temple and

lastly, Jagannath's chariot is drawn.

 

The same procedure is followed on the return car

festival popularly known as Bahuda Yatra. However, in

all other places, the three chariots are pulled to their

destination on the same day. [....]

 

The Baripada rath yatra has a distinct mood. It is indeed

a spectacular sight to see young girls and women

tugging at the ropes of Subhadra's chariot. Many of

them come to Baripada every year from different parts

of Orissa and adjoining West Bengal.

 

Residents of Baripada take great pride in this variation -

women pulling chariot - and say that this trend signifies

the emancipation of women and depicts their active

participation in social affairs.

 

No wonder, women elsewhere are fast catching up with

this trend and adding their own ideas to make it more

colourful and vibrant.

 

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