The Ritual System - Odisha.gov.in
The Ritual System - Odisha.gov.in
The Ritual System - Odisha.gov.in
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July - 2013<br />
Festival Nitis (<strong>Ritual</strong>s)<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are more than 65 festivals or festive<br />
Nitis celebrated dur<strong>in</strong>g a calendar year. Famous<br />
among them are 12 festivals or Dwadasa-Yatra<br />
prescribed <strong>in</strong> Niladri Mohadaya. <strong>The</strong>y are Deba<br />
Snana Purnima <strong>in</strong> Jyestha Purnami, Gundicha or<br />
Ratha Yatra <strong>in</strong> Ashada Sukla Dwitiya (2 nd day of<br />
bright fortnight of July, Sayana Ekadasi <strong>in</strong> Ashada<br />
Sukla Ekadasi (11 th day of bright fortnight of<br />
July), Dakh<strong>in</strong>ayana Sankranti, Uttarayana,<br />
Parsvaparibartan, Utthapana, Pravarana, Pusya<br />
Puja, Dolo, Damanaka Utsava and Chandan<br />
Yatra.<br />
But <strong>in</strong> practice as codified <strong>in</strong> the report<br />
of the special officer (1952) conta<strong>in</strong>s a list of 65<br />
festivals. Important among them which attracts<br />
the pilgrims are the Gundicha Yatra or Car<br />
Festival, which occurs <strong>in</strong> Ashada-Sukla Dwitiya<br />
(June-July). A detailed account of the festival is<br />
given hereafter. <strong>The</strong> other important festive Nitis<br />
observed <strong>in</strong> the temple are:- Herapanchami,<br />
Sayan Ekadasi, Garudasayana Dwadasi,<br />
Chitalagi, Jhulan Jatra, Chandan Jatra, Dussehra,<br />
Dol Jatra (Holi), birth ceremonies of Nrus<strong>in</strong>gha,<br />
Srirama, Srikrishna and Bamana, Ganesh<br />
Chaturthi, Radhastami, Rushi Panchami, Dipavali,<br />
Shiva Ratri, etc.<br />
Besides the elaborate prescribed rituals<br />
<strong>in</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> temple of Lord Jagannath there are a<br />
number of subsidiary Shr<strong>in</strong>es all around the temple<br />
to whom Bhoga and other contributions are sent.<br />
Such subsidiary deities are 94 <strong>in</strong> number as<br />
conta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the Record of Rites.<br />
Besides the subsidiary shr<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong>side the<br />
temple there are a number of temples outside the<br />
temple prec<strong>in</strong>cts that receive daily Bhoga and<br />
other materials like Sarees etc. From among them<br />
mention can be made about Daksh<strong>in</strong>a Kali,<br />
Shyama Kali, Bedi Hanuman, Nrus<strong>in</strong>gha,<br />
Bisweswari, Charchika, Marichika and others.<br />
<strong>Odisha</strong> Review<br />
<strong>The</strong> Bhogas or the food offer<strong>in</strong>gs for the<br />
deities <strong>in</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> temples are prepared <strong>in</strong> the<br />
ma<strong>in</strong> Kitchen of Lord Jagannath while for other<br />
subsidiary deities <strong>in</strong> the ‘Bahara Deuli<br />
Roso’(kitchen for outside deities) beh<strong>in</strong>d Surya<br />
Temple. <strong>The</strong> Bhoga materials to be supplied by<br />
the temple adm<strong>in</strong>istration from laxmi bhandar<br />
or the Godown adjacent to the temple of Goddess<br />
Mahalaxmi for the prescribed bhogas (kotho<br />
bhoga) and subsidiary deities. Many changes have<br />
taken place <strong>in</strong> course of time <strong>in</strong> deal<strong>in</strong>g with the<br />
food materials of the deities. For performance of<br />
such elaborate daily, periodical and festive Nitis<br />
of the deities, huge expenditure and materials are<br />
needed for which the Gajapati k<strong>in</strong>gs have<br />
endowed movable and immovable properties and<br />
the Maths were burdened with the ritual<br />
responsibilities. But with the change of situation<br />
now the temple adm<strong>in</strong>istration is almost meet<strong>in</strong>g<br />
all expenses.<br />
Performance of Nitis <strong>in</strong> the temple and<br />
offer<strong>in</strong>g of Bhoga to the deities has a direct l<strong>in</strong>kage<br />
with the pilgrims and devotees of the town eagerly<br />
wait<strong>in</strong>g for Mahaprasad. Beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
un<strong>in</strong>terrupted supply of earthen conta<strong>in</strong>ers (handi<br />
and kudia), fuel wood and large quantities of rice,<br />
vegetables and ghee, etc., timely cook<strong>in</strong>g by large<br />
number of cooks and performance of<br />
Sodosoupachara Puja (offer<strong>in</strong>g of Puja <strong>in</strong> sixteen<br />
materials) are the basic presuppositions for the<br />
regularity of performance of Nitis and offer<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
Mahaprasad. A slight disruption <strong>in</strong> one of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>gredient shall cause delay <strong>in</strong> the entire cha<strong>in</strong> of<br />
nitis. Many reforms are be<strong>in</strong>g thought of to ensure<br />
timely performance of nitis which will have a<br />
positive impact on the pilgrims who usually come<br />
for tw<strong>in</strong> purposes of see<strong>in</strong>g the Lord, tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Mahaprasad and pay homage <strong>in</strong> Mohadadhi, the<br />
sacred sea.<br />
Sarat Chandra Mohapatra, Nirmalya Bhawan,<br />
Sarvodaya Nagar, Puri – 752002.<br />
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