Post News Network
Keonjhar, July 5: Keonjhar residents just can’t wait for Rath Yatra day to arrive.
The town is feverish with excitement as it readies to pull the tallest Jagannath chariot ever on the big day. Residents say by doing so, they will set a world record as their chariot – standing at a height of 72 ft, will be taller than the one in Puri.
The chariot is all decked up and is ready to begin its nine-day sojourn Wednesday, said officials of the Sri Sri Balabhadra Jew Temple who are behind the feat.
The temple administration claimed that the chariot built this year is 72 ft tall, higher than that of Puri Srimandir. Temple officials also claimed that even the wheels of their chariot are bigger than those of the Puri chariots.
District sub-collector and executive officer of the endowments department Purna Chandra Mishra said all arrangements are in place for the big day.
“The chariot that we have built is a labour of love and is taller than the Puri chariots. The festival will be celebrated here with grandeur, and will adhere to all traditions,” Mishra said, adding that the festival is being celebrated in the area for hundreds of years.
Legend has it that erstwhile Keonjhar king Laxminarayan Bhanj had a dream in which he became aware of the location of an idol of Sri Baldev Jew. He then proceeded to the banks of the Baitarani in 1961 where he found an idol of the Lord, and enshrined it on a huge rock.
Years later, a temple was built near a fortress of the king at Puruna Bazaar in Keonjhar where the idol was enshrined as Baldev Jew after being brought from the hilly area.
Since then, Rath Yatra is being celebrated in the area. The festival here bears special significance for tribals as the festival has several elements of tribal culture associated with it.
Earlier, the tribals used to wear hand-woven colourful clothes and ethnic jewellery. Their colourful dresses and jewellery lent a special charm to the festival.
“During rath yatra, the tribals solemnise a unique marriage system, called Jhinka Bibah. In the course of the dance, the tribals select their respective partners and put vermilion on their foreheads as a mark of marriage. Those traditions have now become extinct,” said litterateur Bimbadhar Behera.
Now, such traditions are not seen any more due to lack of government patronage, Behera said.