1972 - A MIRACULOUS INCIDENT

Jagannath Temple at Koraput

1972 - A Miraculous Incident

CARFESTIVEL AT PURI

An incident that took place at Srikshetra in theyear 1972 washed out the minds of all atheists when inspite of all prayers and requests of the devotees and servants Lord Jagannnath did not mount the Chariot for the Ratha Yatra. The then CM of Orissa Smt Nandini Satapathy too prayed the Lord not be angry on the devotees. Gajapati Maharajah Dibyasingha Deba prayed the Lord to forgive if any mistake is done by the devotees and requested the Lord to mount the chariot and give a Darshan to the mammoth gathering of devotees. This was the year when the first car festival of Koraput was observed where thousands of tribals gathered to have a Darshan of the Lord and to pull the chariot. Later when Lord mounted on the chariot at Srikshetra Puri, his close devotees including bada panda said that Lord had gone to Koraput for a shower of blessings for His intimate Sabara devotees as they are His own people and awaited to see Him on the Rath for the first time at Koraput after the new Sabara Srikshetra temple constructed. One who visits Koraput will experience and feel the presence of the divine almighty. Even today after so much of industrialisation and modernisation the place has its beauty with hill tracks, rivers, streams, forests and greenery. Lord Jagannath is worshipped by different tribes in different names. The Koyas worship the Lord as 􀂵Jaga Raja􀂶, the Kondhs as 􀂵Jagaya􀂶, the Gadabas as 􀂵Jagada􀂶 and the Sauras or Sabaras as􀂵Jaganta, Jagaraji, Keitung etc. Sabaras are great devotees of Lord Jagannath. Their style of worshipping the Lord prevails as their older generations did. For the Adivasis Lord Jagannath is an incarnation (avatar) of their deity Keitung. They call it 􀂳Jaganta􀂴 (means Lord of the Universe). The Saoras believe that 􀂳Keitung􀂴 has ten faces (rupa) : Jaganta, Todo, Tuman, Bhima, Rang Rang, Garshid, Raman, Jojepal, Matta and Titti. With love the Saoras call their Lord of grace as 􀂳Jaga Boie􀂴 (Boie means Lord). Lord Jagannath is known as Madala. Even today Sabaras worship and do Madala puja. Wherever tribals see Lord Jagannath they see a vibrant icon in Him. Actually this sensation comes among the tribal communities because Lord Jagannath belonging to them can be called Savara Devata. Fifteen days before the Car Festival the devotees do not get Darshan of the Lord. This period is called "anasara" (period of confinement). Legends relate that during this period gods become ill and nobody except the "Daitas" are allowed to serve the Lord, proves that they are the close counterparts of the Lord. The Daitas are the descendants of the Savara King Biswabasu. Thus this indicates the 􀂵Savaras􀂶 are the near and dear one for the Lord, who take care of Him during illness. This might be one reason why Lord Jagannath is called Savara Devata. At Puri, the Srikshetra of Orissa, the three Chariots are sweeped by Maharaja Gajapati, the King. This ritual was known as 􀂵Chhera Pahanra􀂶 while at Koraput Chhera Pahanra is performed by a tribal.

This ritual was started since the first car festival at Koraput in the year 1972 after Lord Jagannath, who had arrived at Koraput with a miraculous happening for the Adivasis􀂶 faith in Him. The first car festival of Koraput is important to remember as thousands of poor, shelterless and downtrodden , who have never seen Puri or have never got a chance to visit Puri, were waiting with great anxiety to see the Lord of the Universe who will come out of the temple and mount on the 􀂵Rath􀂶 (Chariot). Lord will mount on the Chariot. Now where the Chariot will move ? Since Koraput is a hill station with all the up and down roads . The only plain road available was NH 43 . It was then decided to move the chariot on the NH from near the NH office to the Gundicha temple on the Koraput Rayagada road. (The Bada Danda of Koraput) . Thousands of tribals from different parts of Koraput district were seen in the crowd. Groups of people belonging to different tribal communities gathered in their traditional costumes dancing and chanting tribal hymns to pull the car. The temple management committee was confused as to who will perform the job of 􀂵Chhera Pahanra􀂶(sweeping of the car), the duty performed by Gajapati Maharaja at Puri.

The legend which was established at Koraput on the Lord’s arrival for the Adivasi’s faith in Him came to everybody’s mind. Suddenly it was decided that the sweeping will be performed by a tribal and accordingly a man from the crowd was invited to do the job. The man Budura who performed the job was later known that he was a village head and Sabara from the nearby village and a most respectable man in that area. From that day the system is continuing and every year a tribal chief performs the job during car festival at Koraput. At the Sabara Srikshetra Ratha Yatra one can see the interest of the tribals to pull the car. Some tribals will be found pulling a piece of thread from the rope tied on the car, some touching it to their head while some others kissing it with love. A huge crowd of devotees from the hilly terrain and inaccessible villages will definitely come out once during Ratha Yatra to see their Lord on the Rath. Notable fact is the role of Adivasis in the management of the temple works. They assist the cooks in kitchens, bring water and materials from stores for the everyday Puja in the temple. They arrive in thousands from distant villages to serve the Puja during the car festivel. The Koraput temple management committee sends special invitations to the villages before the Ratha Yatra begins. The system of invitation is done by sending Supari( gua) as we send to invite our kith and kins. The tribals reach the temple premises in advance and take up their responsibility. From supplying water at the kitchen to preparation of the “Bhog”the tribals are seen engaged. On the Yatra day Tribal groups from Bonda, Koya, Lanjia Saura and Paraja perform dancing near the chariot as it moves. On behalf of the temple managing body tribal chiefs of different villages are felicitated on the Car Festival day with presentation of a Sirpa (a head gear).

Paresh Rath a Journalist who lives at Jeypore,
Dist.- Koraput.

Source : Orissa Review July - 2010

*****************************************************