ஜெய் ஜகன்னாத்- பூரியில் 10 லட்சம் பக்தர்கள் ரதயாத்திரைக்காக

பூரி ரத யாத்திரைக்காக உலகெங்குமிருந்தும் 10 லட்சம் பக்தர்கள் பூரியில் குவிந்தனர்.

பூரி ஜகன்நாத யாத்திரை இன்று ஆரம்பிக்கிறது.


Puri rath yatra begins
16 Jul, 2007 l 2121 hrs ISTlPTI

PURI: Amidst chanting of 'Jai Jagannath' by devotees, Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, on Monday performed 'chhera pahanra' -- ceremonial sweeping of the three chariots, a ritual performed during the annual car festival.

Before heading towards the chariots to perform the ritual, the Gajapati Maharaja told reporters that he was "proudly" following the tradition which is regarded as a service to Lord Jagannath.

Clad in spotless white royal attire, the Gajapati swept the chariots one after another with a golden broom as priests chanted slokas.

"Chhera Pahanra practice symbolises that no one is big, even if he is a king, before Lord Jagannath. The king performs the sweeping ritual as it is considered a menial task. Jagannath cult says that all are equal before the Lord", the Gajapati said.

According to Rabinarayan Mishra, a noted researcher on Jagannath cult, the ritual goes back several hundred years and is a symbol of the subjugation of the temporal to the spiritual. "It also symbolises that there is no distinction of caste, creed or any other barrier during the entire festival," he said.

The car festival is the occasion where all are equal transcending caste, religion and creed. Jagannath is also called 'Patitapaban' -- the lord of the downtrodden. Therefore, the king is asked to sweep the chariots by burying his ego.