“Jay Jagannath Arpan Rath” moves in 11 blocks of Rayagada
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, January 8: Scores of households from thousands of villages from eleven blocks of Rayagada district have offered betel nuts and rice in “Kalash” to the Jagannath Arpan Rath, which has started moving from block headquarters to panchayat and even to interior village pockets. Chanting of “Jay Jagannath” is reverberating a wave in the village streets with grand welcome of the Rath, which is carrying the offerings of the people to Puri Jagannath Temple on the occasion of inauguration of Jagannath Temple Parikrama Prakalp on ensuing 17th January.
Locals in the tribal district like Rayagada believe that Lord Jagannath has deep connection with tribal culture. Lalita-Viswabasu-Nila Madhava-Sabara episode is well described in our Puranas. There is an emotional attachment of the Lord Jagannath to this part of the land. So, the Raths are highly revered in the tribal villages with puja & offerings.
Aesthetic Rangolis were drawn by the young girls and women to welcome the rath. Sri Jagannath Saraka, Minister of SC-ST-OBC-Minority Affairs & law, Sri Sudhir Das, Advisor-BSKY, Sri Raghunath Gomango, MLA-Gunupur, Saraswati Majhi, ZP-President, SDC Chairperson Anusuya Majhi alongwith all block chairpersons and BDOs have taken lead in blocks like Kolnara, Bissam Cuttack, Gudari, Gunupur, Padmapur, K Singhpur, Ramanaguda, Kashipur, Muniguda, Chandrapur & Rayagada. People alongwith peoples’ representatives assembled in large numbers at Sraddha Srikhetra of Rayagada, Durgi Jagannath Temple, Gunupur Jagannath Temple to greet the Raths with devoutional songs and dance.
This has created a spiritual and religious atmosphere in the entire district and reflected that “Jagannath Cult” is very much part of this tribal region.
