Jagannath Rath Yatra: Tales Of Holy Siblings' Swinging Tahias & The Craftmanship In Puri, Odisha

The captivating scene of the crown or tahia of Lord Jagannath swinging and moving like waves, makes the heart of devotees skip a beat. During the Pahandi on Rath Yatra when the three sibling deities come out of their abode, no matter how far a devotee is standing on the Grand Road, the moving tahia indicates the Lord’s motion. Within a few moments, the devotees claim their share of the Lord’s blessing by tearing off the tahia and the maker of the crown quietly but smilingly watches his efforts of months disappear into fragments. The tahias for both Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra differ in sizes for both days. On Rath Yatra, smaller tahias are used compared to Bahuda to help the deities come out of the temple easily as the entrance of Srimandir is smaller than Gundicha temple. Crafted from bamboo, cane, banana stem, sola, zari, and vibrant elements, artisans meticulously prepare these crowns. Painted by chitrakara sevayats with organic colors, the tahias are adorned with real flowers like rangini and tulasi before Rath Yatra. As Lord Jagannath and siblings emerge during Pahandi, the tahias sway gracefully, reflecting their journey. Devotees eagerly receive blessings by touching or taking a piece, while artisans witness their craftsmanship adorning the divine moment.