Page 319 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

ODISHA  317

The Jagannath Cult

A unique cult has grown around Jagannath (Lord of the Universe), an incarnation of
Vishnu. At Puri’s Jagannath Temple, 6,000 resident priests perform the elaborate daily
rituals of bathing, dressing and worshipping the image of Jagannath, together with
those of his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra. Sumptuous meals are offered to
the three deities five times a day, prepared daily by 400 temple cooks. During the
spectacular Rath Yatra (chariot festival) in June/July, the deities are taken out in a
procession in mammoth wooden chariots, pulled by thousands of devotees. The
word juggernaut (large truck) is derived from the size and unstoppable force of
Lord Jagannath’s chariot.
Temple Devotees try
offerings to spend at
are sold at least three
numerous days paying
stalls at the obeisance to
gates of Jagannath.
the temple.

Balbhadra has a white face Subhadra has a Puri Jagannath’s chariot is Jagannath
and rides in a chariot with yellow face and rides cityscape 1,370 m (4,495 ft) tall Temple
14 wheels and four horses. in a red chariot. and has 16 wheels.

Pattachitra Painting of the Rath Yatra
Policeman Musicians and Temple
drummers priests The Rath Yatra marks Lord Jagannath’s annual journey to his
birthplace, the Gundicha Temple, just over 2 km (1 mile)
away. Over 200,000 people, including priests, pilgrims,
musicians and drummers, join the procession.

Temple dancers, young
boys known as gotipuas,
perform the classical
Odissi dance (see p32)
before the deities
every night. They
are accompanied by Balbhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath, the
musicians singing three deities, are believed to be of tribal origin,
verses from the Gita but have been absorbed into the Hindu pantheon.
Govinda, a 12th-century They have huge, all-seeing eyes, and outstretched
epic poem (see p296). arms to protect and bless all mankind.
Pilgrims swarming around the huge chariot at the Rath Yatra Festival in Puri

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