Baripada’s Rath Yatra: Unique ‘Chariot Pulling’ Tradition Symbolising Women Empowerment

Rath Yatra in Baripada that is celebrated a day after the main Gundicha Yatra in Puri, features a unique tradition where the chariot of Goddess Subhadra is pulled exclusively by women. This year the chariots of the Trinity will be pulled on 8 July, Monday, at Dwitiya Srikhetra in Mayurbhanj’s Baripada. The Haribaldev Jew temple’s car festival lasts for 13 days, unlike the nine-day celebration in Puri. Notably, The Jagannath temple at Baripada, known as Haribaldev Jew temple, was constructed by Maharaja Baidyanath Bhanja Dev in 1575 AD. This temple is a significant symbol of the religious devotion of the Bhanja rulers of Mayurbhanj. This special tradition of chariot pulling by women began in 1975, during the International Women’s Year, as a symbol of women empowerment. It all started in the mid-1950s when a woman devotee was severely injured while trying to touch one of the chariot ropes. A compassionate person who saved her suggested to the district administration that women should have the exclusive right to pull Goddess Subhadra’s chariot. This proposal was accepted by Vivekananda Patnaik, the then collector and district magistrate of Mayurbhanj. After this historic decision, thousands of devotees gathered at Bada Danda, the Grand Road leading to Haribaldev Jew temple, to participate in pulling the chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The Baripada Rath Yatra is considered the second most important, next only to Puri.

Published: Odishatv Bureau

Last updated: 26 June 2024, 03:45 PM IST