Orissa Review * July - 2005

Dwadas Yatras of Sri Jagannath

(Twelve Festivals of the Lord)
Banamali Suar

The temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, a coastal ceremony, killing ceremony of demons (Asuras)
town near Bay of Bengal popularly known i.e. Baka, Argha, Dhenuka, Pralamba, and
"Mahodadhi", occupies a distinct place in the Kekesi, Kaliyadalan, Mathurahato, Bastra Haran
entire religious world. The word Puri has been (stealing of sarees) Debagni, Nikunjalila blind
derived from Purusottam Puri which is the game, Dahalila, killing of Kansa, birth day
fundamental and original essence of Hindu ceremony of Baban, Indradhwaja Puja, Indra
philosophy. Both temple and the Lords have deep Chandro Govind Elephant puja, Durga Madhab
impact on the social life of people. The social life Yatra, gambling, Dasahara, Rajavesha, Weapon
of Srikhetra is more or W o r s h i p ,
less spiritual and Radhadamodar vesha.
cultural based. Amidst Hariutthan Ekadasi,
hundreds of rites and Sarato Rahasa, Dipa
rituals and festivals in offering, Shradha, Pusa
the Jagannath Temple Abhishek, Makara
during the whole year and Dhanumuan
such as Snana Yatra, Odana, Padmavesha,
Hativesha, Anasar, Fire ceremony and
Chakata Bhog, Pana Dola Yatra, Ashoka
Bhog, Fulurilagi, Osua Astami, Birthday
and Khalilagi, Sandal ceremony of
paste offering, Raja Nrusingha and Sri
Prasad, Khali and Khadi prasad ceremony, Netro Rama and all his activities and plays from
Utchhaba, Pahandi Bije, Rath Yatra, Sweeping childhood to killing of Ravana, Akhyayatrutia and
or Chherapahara ceremony. Hera Panchami, boating ceremony and marriage of Lord Jagannath
Gundicha Rahas, Rath returned festival, with mother Laxmi, only twelve festivals are
Adharpana. Niladri Bije and sleeping Ekadasi, considered to be most important. Those are
Garuda sleeping Ekadasi, Dakhinayan observed one after another. Twelve months are
Bandapana, Chitalagi, Golden Pendant studded fixed for twelve yatras. In the month of Jyestha,
with diamond, sapphire, blue gem and blood-stone the marriage ceremony of Sri Jagannath takes
and emerald, Nrusing Yatra, Jhulan, Birthday of place on Ekadasi day with Goddess Laxmi who
Balabhadra, Sri Sudarsan's four Ashram journeys, writes a love letter expresing her desire for holy
Rahurekha ceremony, Birth day ceremony of Sri union with Lord. Then begins the ceremony and
Krishna, Nanda Utsav, feast of Jungle, plum selling on fullmoon day, the grand bathing ceremony

54
 Orissa Review * July - 2005

starts on Snana Vedi. In Ganesh Vesha, the Lords Blacksnake by Srikrishna), Killing of eight demons
appear very attractive and Anabasar day begins (generals of king Kansa), stealing game and
for fifteen days. In the month of Ashadha - Ratha Kansa's death etc. are observed for nineteen days.
and Bahuda Yatras are celebrated. This Yatra In these rites and rituals, the local inhabitants of
(festival) is the greatest and most important among ancient streets (Sahis) take part directly. They
all festivals. It attracts piligrims from all over the use to hold meetings and decide democratically
world. In Skanda Purana, the festival has been as to who will act as a demon. One person from
described as Mohavedi Mohoschhaba Yatra. It each Sahi on each appointed day is dressed and
was the pious wish and order of Supreme God decorated as a demon to display his game and
to king Indradyumna to arrange this festival in lila as per custom and tradition. The movable
every year and to drive Him to holy land of Sri representative deity of Sri Jagannath i.e. Sri
Nrusingha. In three chariots namely Taladhwaja Madan Mohan after being permitted by Lord
for God Balabhadra, Devidalana for Goddess Jagannath takes part in this festival.
Subhadra and Nandighosa for God Sri Jagannath,
In the month of Aswina - Durga puja
all deities are carried. In Devidalana, the Sudarsan
wheel designed as a log of wood is seated on festival is celebrated for sixteen days. Sri Madhab
Her left side. The movable deities Sri Balaram otherwise known Balapurusottam and Goddess
and Srikrishna in Taladhwaja and Sri Durga together get united for the entire period
Madanmohan dev in Nandighosa are also carried. and Durgamadhab Rath Yatra is observed for nine
All sects join in this festival. God Jagannath is days and golden Rajavesha is observed on
Supreme Bramhan and Purusottama. The greatest Dasahara day.
psychic impact i.e. sense of unity, integrity and In the month of Kartika a special Bhog
brotherhood bind all piligrims into one entity. The called Balabhog is offered and different Veshas
social life and spiritual life become one and same. and decorations are made. Among those
After Bahuda Yatra, when deities are carried into Radhadamodara vesha continues from Dasahara
the Temple in Pahandi, the last door closing Ekadasi day to next tenth day. After newmoon
ceremony is observed in inner sanction of the main till full moon on every monday Harihara vesha is
Temple. The door opens by the order of Laxmi observed for deity Sri Balabhadra. Harihara vesha
after getting satisfactory nine answers from Sri make the Lord half black and half white. Sri
Jagannath. In last answer, the social status and Jagannath is decorated and dressed in
freedom of ladies are recognised by Sri Laxminarayana vesha which begins from
Jagannath. Dasahara Ekadasi day. On twelfth day Baman or
In the month of Shravan - the Golden Bankachuda vesha, on thirteenth day Tribikram
Pendants, studded with diamond, sapphire, or Dalikia vesha and on fourteenth day Laxmi
emerald, blood stone, and blue gem etc. are Nrushingha vesha are performed and celebrated.
placed on foreheads of the deities. This is called In the month of Margasira - Dipa Dana
Chitalagi and the birthday ceremony of ceremony and Pitrushradha are observed. A tree
Balabhadra is also observed. is artistically erected on the ground in inner sactum
In Bhadrava - birthday of Srikrishna is below Ratnasinghasan with sundried rice. After
observed. The Yatra begins from birth till killing it is purified, ghee earthen lamps (dipa) are placed
of Kansa Asura. During the entire period, on different portions of said tree and then other
Nandoatchhab, Kolibika, Kaliyadalan (Defeat of customary rituals follow. The outer part of temple

55
 Orissa Review * July - 2005

is also lightened with earthen lamps (Dipa) and representative of Sri Jagannath alongwith mother
prayer is offered to Almighty for restoration of Laxmi and Saraswati sits together. After boating
peace, security and prosperity of the King and of first phase, deities are carried to a small temple
his kingdom. In this month Ghodolagi begins. It inside the Tank. Inside the temple, there is a small
means covering of body with clothes to protect sweet scented water tank. Together Sri
from winter. Madanmohan, Laxmi and Saraswati use to have
In the month of Pausa, Pahilibhog secret play and enjoyment for some hours. None
ceremony is observed throughout the month. A is permitted to see this bathing ceremony. The
special cake is prepared out of blackgram wheat doors remain closed under lock and key. Other
flour and cow's ghee. On full moon day, the deities deities use to take bath in different tanks openly.
are decorated with Golden Rajavesha and On the beginning day of boating ceremony,
coronation ceremony is also observed. On this the Ratha preparation is being permitted by the
day Sri Rama's coronation ceremony was Lords with performance of rites and rituals. Thus
celebrated at Ayodhya in the Ramayana days. the above twelve festivals are observed for the
In the month of Magha, Padma vesha and Lords in twelve months. Harmony and balance
Gajauddharana vesha are performed. have been maintained in all rites and rituals and in
all festivals in order to establish a sense of unity
In Falguna the famous Dola festival of the among all castes, sects and religious faiths. Lord
Lords begins. After getting permission, Sri Jagannath is Purusottama. This has been well
Saraswati, Sri Laxmi, Sri Dolagovind and narrated in the first line of Bhismadeva's answer
Madanmohan come to Dolavedi (alter) where the to the six questions of Judhisthira as mentioned in
deities play with red colour powder i.e. called
Visnusahasranama. He has been addressed as
Fagu or Abira.
Atmayoni and Swayamjata which mean that
In the month of Chaitra, the birthday Almighty Purusottama has no mother. He himself
ceremony of Sri Rama is observed. The movable is the Creator and Destroyer, and Operator as
representative deity Sri Rama after getting mother. Thus he is both mother and father. He is
permission from Sri Jagannath takes part in such both thesis and synthesis. The cultural values are
rites and rituals. All activities and plays from his unity, uniformity and universality. Lord Balabhadra
childhood till killing of the demon king Ravan are and Goddess Subhadra are inseparable part of
customarily and traditionally observed. In this Sri Jagannath. That is why He is the main presiding
cultural yatra, there comes active participation deity recognised and worshipped by all sects, and
of local inhabitants. devotees of all religious faiths. His Bhoga
In Baisakha begins the Chaitra Gundicha mahaprasad is world famous. It has established
yatra i.e. Chandan Festival for 42 days. Out of socialism by derecognising the casteism, colour
these days, only twentyone days are observed feeling and creed and special privilege. Nowhere
outside the temple in the sacred Narendra Tank. in the religious arena ever exists such culture
Two decorated boats are used for the boating which is unique and incomparable.
ceremony. In the first boat, Sri Balaram and
Srikrishna and five famous Sivas of Srikhetra such
as Jameswar, Lokanath, Markandeswar, Banamali Suar is an Advocate who lives at Dolamandap
Kapalamochan and Nilakantheswar use to sit. In Sahi, Puri. He is also a Sevayat in Lord Jagannath Temple,
the second boat Sri Madanmohan Dev, Puri.

56