Lord Jagannath is the principal deity of all odias across the globe. Despite location barriers, the Jagannath culture has spread its charms globally. Odias enthusiastically celebrate the annual chariot festival, the Rath Yatra, with family and friends. Anandpur town is no exception to these festivities.
Maa was privileged to join in many Rath Yatras during her school and college years. This article features her anecdotes.
Anandpur town features a broad road running past the Jagannath temple, the Bada Danda. During the chariot festival, people pull the rope attached to the chariot, carrying it to the Gundicha temple. It’s a strenuous but devotional activity. Devotees flock to the town every year to join in this ritual. During Maa’s time, the population was relatively small. Thus, the Bada Danda offered more breathing room. The crowd was less dense during the chariot festival in those days.
Anandpur is the heart of Keonjhar district. A sizable tribal population lives in this district. They have unique cultures, but they are devotees of Lord Jagannath. In tribal culture, a unique tradition involves offering a deity something valuable. This is done to gain prosperity and peace within the community. According to Maa’s tale, men and women came to the chariot festival from these tribal strongholds. They wore unique attire. It was traditional and colorful. They were a treat to watch. They arrived with weapons like bows and arrows. They also brought other conventional items. Their intention was to showcase their culture to everyone. They wanted to put on a show for Lord Jagannath. The performances were worth watching.
Another aspect that stood out during the festival was the abundance of food available. Prashad, sweets, and pithas were offered to the lord in every household. The shops were filled with tasty snacks for travelers. As kids, we had many choices.
Many distant relatives and family members living outside Anandpur came to join in the Rath Yatra. Back then, it was the norm for every family member to be at home to celebrate the holiday. It helped bond the community and foster brotherhood, so the Rath Yatra held a special place on everybody’s calendar. Those were the golden days for the kids, as they united as close cousins during the holiday.
Nowadays, Anandpur still enthusiastically celebrates the Rath Yatra. Yet, the unique charm of the 1970s and 1980s is missing. The old-timers reminisce about the festival’s happy days as if they were yesterday. It’s still essential to cherish precious memories for a lifetime. Kudos to them.
The Witty Stride 