post news network, Bhubaneswar, March 25: Preparations are on in full swing for the famous Rukuna Rath Yatra of Lingaraj temple, which is scheduled to be held on March 27. Around 47 carpenters and their helpers are working day and night to finish the construction of the chariot.
The biggest festival of the city, it is celebrated on the day of Ashokastami or Basanti Durga Puja, which takes place in the month of Chaitra and lasts for five days. During the festival the three deities – Chandrashekhar, the representative of lord Lingaraj, Rukmini and Basudeva are ceremonially brought out of the temple to ascend the chariot. The chariot is taken to the Rameshwar temple and remains there for four days; on the fifth day the three deities start the return journey. The interesting thing about the Rath Yatra is, on the return journey the chariot is drawn to the temple backwards without it taking any turn.
This means only the alter of the deities turn inside the chariot with the deities facing the exact opposite direction in which they arrived, while the chariot moves backward.
Speaking on the arrangements made by the temple administration, Srinibas Kabi, executive officer of the Lingaraj temple administration said, “Around 60 per cent construction work of the Rukuna Rath has been completed, which means the Rath will be ready before March 27. Like every year this year too we are making special arrangements.
The BMC is responsible for arranging proper lighting, drinking water facility, ambulance, and cleaning.
“The public health department is going to install temporary taps for drinking water purpose; at least two water tankers will be placed in prominent places.”
Around 2 lakh devotees are expected to participate in the Rath Yatra but the final turnout will be determined by the temperature on that day.
Talking about the Rath Yatra, Kabi said, “Rukuna Rath is a victorious chariot presented to lord Shiva to kill demon Tripurashura. The specialty of the Rath is that it never takes a turn; the chariot goes straight and is drawn backwards later, only the position of the deities change”.
When asked about the initiative of the state government to get a UNESCO heritage site tag for the Ekamra Kshetra of which the Lingaraj temple is the centerpiece, Kabi said, “I don’t know any thing about it but if it happens then it will be a very good opportunity for the development of the whole Ekamra Kshetra. Ekamra is mostly popular for the Shiva temples; earlier near about 1000 temples were there in Bhubaneswar due to which it is called the Temple City. But now people only know about prominent temples that exist in the city, the rest have lost their glory.”
“Though ASI is doing a lot for the beautification and maintenance of prominent ancient temples, but the UNESCO initiative will certainly boost the tourism industry here.
“Regular festivals like dance festivals etc are often organised in these sites to promote tourism in the area but many more things need to be done to preserve the site,” he said.
Though some temples in the Ekamra Kshetra are maintained by the ASI, yet there are many temples, which are left without care; besides there are many huge scared tanks near prominent temples, which need maintenance. However, for lack of funds the renovation of many tanks is not done; now, there will be some hope, the temple official said.
Speaking about ancient culture and heritage of the site which must be highlighted he said, “UNESCO recognition would be a beginning; a thorough survey only can get this place a world heritage site tag. There are many books on palm leaves, which can be used to verify the rich heritage. The state government needs to take proper steps to establish Ekamra Kshetra as a world heritage site.”
