The Ritual System - Odisha.gov.in

July - 2013
Festival Nitis (Rituals)
There are more than 65 festivals or festive
Nitis celebrated during a calendar year. Famous
among them are 12 festivals or Dwadasa-Yatra
prescribed in Niladri Mohadaya. They are Deba
Snana Purnima in Jyestha Purnami, Gundicha or
Ratha Yatra in Ashada Sukla Dwitiya (2 nd day of
bright fortnight of July, Sayana Ekadasi in Ashada
Sukla Ekadasi (11 th day of bright fortnight of
July), Dakhinayana Sankranti, Uttarayana,
Parsvaparibartan, Utthapana, Pravarana, Pusya
Puja, Dolo, Damanaka Utsava and Chandan
Yatra.
But in practice as codified in the report
of the special officer (1952) contains a list of 65
festivals. Important among them which attracts
the pilgrims are the Gundicha Yatra or Car
Festival, which occurs in Ashada-Sukla Dwitiya
(June-July). A detailed account of the festival is
given hereafter. The other important festive Nitis
observed in the temple are:- Herapanchami,
Sayan Ekadasi, Garudasayana Dwadasi,
Chitalagi, Jhulan Jatra, Chandan Jatra, Dussehra,
Dol Jatra (Holi), birth ceremonies of Nrusingha,
Srirama, Srikrishna and Bamana, Ganesh
Chaturthi, Radhastami, Rushi Panchami, Dipavali,
Shiva Ratri, etc.
Besides the elaborate prescribed rituals
in the main temple of Lord Jagannath there are a
number of subsidiary Shrines all around the temple
to whom Bhoga and other contributions are sent.
Such subsidiary deities are 94 in number as
contained in the Record of Rites.
Besides the subsidiary shrines inside the
temple there are a number of temples outside the
temple precincts that receive daily Bhoga and
other materials like Sarees etc. From among them
mention can be made about Dakshina Kali,
Shyama Kali, Bedi Hanuman, Nrusingha,
Bisweswari, Charchika, Marichika and others.
Odisha Review
The Bhogas or the food offerings for the
deities in the main temples are prepared in the
main Kitchen of Lord Jagannath while for other
subsidiary deities in the ‘Bahara Deuli
Roso’(kitchen for outside deities) behind Surya
Temple. The Bhoga materials to be supplied by
the temple administration from laxmi bhandar
or the Godown adjacent to the temple of Goddess
Mahalaxmi for the prescribed bhogas (kotho
bhoga) and subsidiary deities. Many changes have
taken place in course of time in dealing with the
food materials of the deities. For performance of
such elaborate daily, periodical and festive Nitis
of the deities, huge expenditure and materials are
needed for which the Gajapati kings have
endowed movable and immovable properties and
the Maths were burdened with the ritual
responsibilities. But with the change of situation
now the temple administration is almost meeting
all expenses.
Performance of Nitis in the temple and
offering of Bhoga to the deities has a direct linkage
with the pilgrims and devotees of the town eagerly
waiting for Mahaprasad. Beginning from
uninterrupted supply of earthen containers (handi
and kudia), fuel wood and large quantities of rice,
vegetables and ghee, etc., timely cooking by large
number of cooks and performance of
Sodosoupachara Puja (offering of Puja in sixteen
materials) are the basic presuppositions for the
regularity of performance of Nitis and offering of
Mahaprasad. A slight disruption in one of the
ingredient shall cause delay in the entire chain of
nitis. Many reforms are being thought of to ensure
timely performance of nitis which will have a
positive impact on the pilgrims who usually come
for twin purposes of seeing the Lord, taking
Mahaprasad and pay homage in Mohadadhi, the
sacred sea.
Sarat Chandra Mohapatra, Nirmalya Bhawan,
Sarvodaya Nagar, Puri – 752002.
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