Rathyatra

RATHYATRA : The Journey Of Jagannath

The English dictionary lists a word Juggernaut', which has originated from this festival celebrated in the temple town of lasannathpuri in Orissa. In this eastern state where there are more than 10,000 temples dedicated to various deities of the Vaishnava cult, June brings a procession or yatra of the chariot of Ta~annath held in Pnri.

The British, awed by the unstoppable surge of humanity pulling the rath or chariot, coined the term 'Juggernaut', to indicate an irresistable force. During the Rathayatra festival, the idol of Jagannath is taken in procession along the streets of Puri to a specific point, before starting again on the homeward innrnev a few davs later.

Puri is the site of the great Car Festival of Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. The ropes of the huge chariots are pulled by millions of devotees who also believe that this act bestows salvation upon them.

The Puri Rathyatra is now legendary. An incredible mass of humanity, consisting of both the devout and the curious, converges on this temple town in Orissa. The devout believe that pulling on the rope of the rath assures them of heavenly salvation. Every citizen dresses up and offers sweets to the deity when the rath goes through his home street and aratis are performed along with the singing of devotional songs. Rathayatra is truly a mass celebration because of the thousands of devotees who dance ecstatically in front of the deity as it proceeds from street to street.

Though this festival originated in Orissa, it has become a common sight in cities like Bombay, where in the midst of the heat of June, highly ornamented raths are brought to the beach for a public darshan of the deity by thousands of people before the procession disperses.

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Ganga Dussehra

GANGA DUSSEHRA : River Of Life

The river Ganga holds a uniquely significant place in Indian life and consciousness. It rises at Gangotri, high in the snow-clad Himalayas. Cascading down mighty boulders, it flows into the hot plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and finally meets the waters of the sea in the Bay of Bengal. At Allahabad, the Ganga merges with the river Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati. The confluence of these rivers, known as Prayag, is considered one of the most sacred spots on earth.

The Ganga, largest of the rivers of India, has been sacred to Hindus from the epic era. She is the mother who washes away all the sins of mankind. The water of the Ganga is worshipped in sealed containers in every home, sprinkled as a benediction of peace, and mven as the last sacrament.

Regarded as a celestial river originating in the heavens, Ganga was gifted to mankind in answer to the great sadhana undertaken by Bhagirath, after whom she is also called Bhagirathi. Bhagirath, a descendant of the Sagara dynasty, prayed for the Ganga to descend onto the parched earth and bring life. But the torrential waters of the Ganga were a mighty and destructive force.

Despite its pollution the Ganga is a symbol of purity. Its water bestows salvation to the dying and new life to the living.

In Hardwar, at the foothills of the Himalayas, where the Ganga reaches the plains, aratis are performed each evening.

Unusual images of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra who are ceremonially pulled in the grand chariots at Puri.

Brahma and Vishnu asked Shiva to accept the Ganga into his matted locks. Confined in Shiva's hair, Ganga lost the wild force of her flow and became a placid, life-giving river. Many sacred cities are situated along her banks of which Varanasi or Kashi is the most sacred.

In the bright half of Jyeshtha the first 10 days are devoted to worship of the river Ganga. According to Puranic legend Gangavataran or the descent of the Ganga, happened at this time Devotees touch the river water, bathe m it, and take the river clay home to venerate. In Hardwar, Uttar Pradesh, aratis are performed at twilight and a large number of devotees meditate on her serene banks.

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