Monday 2 July 2012

Rath Yatra, Puri, - Car Festival!

June 21st 2012 saw the start of this years' world famous Car Festival - 'it commenorates Krishna's journey from Gokul to Mathura. Lord Jaganarth, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra are dragged along the Grand Road in 3 huge cars known as 'ratha' from Jaganarth Mandir to Gundicha Mandir (temple).'

The temples are at opposite ends of the Grand Road. I am lucky enough to be living at the Gundicha Mandir end of town so all the festivities were literally on my doorstep - if I didn't mind jostling with over 1 million people coming and going over the course of the week!
There was certainly a transformation going on in Puri during the week leading up to the festival - vendors carts were moved, rubbish clearance was stepped up and open drains were covered to make entering shops easier and, of course, safer! The first day of the festival I walked down the Grand
Road, there was an amazing carnival atmosphere,.
                                                                            
 people dancing, singing
and dressed in amazing costumes

The carts are elaborately decorated pyramid structures on massive wheels. They are pulled by men along the road and once they start to move they soon gather momentum and are very difficult to stop or turn. Each cart has 6 wooden horses: white, brown, or black. The images of the Lords are positioned in the centre and they are surrounded by staff and priests from the temple. Only Hindus are allowed in Jaganarth Temple, and only Hindus are allowed to climb the stairs to meet their Lord during the week that they are positioned at Gundicha Mandir.

For me the high light was the lovely craft fair which was again just a short walk from my flat. Beautiful hand stitched bedding and pictures, pottery and wood carvings!


The week ended with the 'Gold Festival' when all the gold from Jaganarth Temple is brought out to adorn the Deities before they return to their resting places. This was unfortunately delayed by the most torrential downpour and severe thunderstorm I have experienced since arriving! It was made even more memorable because my friend Julie came down from Bhubaneswar for  the weekend - we were both caught out in this just as she arrived and were drenched through. The rain was so severe my flat flooded worse than ever and we had no power for several hours! (Glastonbury Spirit rules!)There was the end to my plans to cook!
When the rain subsided we hailed a rickshaw and had a lovely meal at the Wild Grass Restaurant followed by coffee at the Honey Bee mmmm...... all's well that ends well....

Next week sees the opening of our new Service Support Centre for Children with Disabilities, I have been asked to make a speech and cut the ribbon "we can't refuse - such an honour!"
See you soon.....

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