Guptipara Rathayatra

Guptipara Rathayatra has been celebrated in Guptipara in Hooghly District of West Bengal since the 1730s. The chariot is a nabaratna-style wooden temple, where the presiding deity in the chariot is that of Brindaban Chandra jiu. The Guptipara Rathayatra is second only to the Puri Rathayatra in terms of the distance covered. One of the unique events of Guptipara Rathayatra is the ''bhandara loot'', which is held a day before the ''purnayatra'' or the ''ulto rath''. A month long fair is held in Guptipara on the occasion of the festival. Every year thousands of devotees take part in the festival.

History

The year when the rathayatra started is not clear. According to some sources, the rathayatra is more than 400 years old. According to other sources, the rathayatra started somewhere between 1735 and 1740. According to another source Swami Madhusudanananda of Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math started the ''rathayatra'' in the year 1740. In 1858, one lakh devotees participated in the ''bhandara loot'', according to Swami Govindananda Puri of Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math. In 1873, Swami Prithananda, the ''dandiswami'' of Shree Shree Vrindavana Chandra Jiu was run over during the ''rathyatra'' in an accident. Following that incident, the number of ''shikhara''s of the ''ratha'' was reduced from thirteen to nine.

Chariot

The present ''ratha'' or the chariot is a wooden Nabaratna temple having nine ''shikhara''s. The framework of the ''ratha'' is made of Shorea robusta hardwood. The ''ratha'' has a square base measuring 34 feet by 34 feet. It is four storied, having a height of 36 feet. The ''ratha'' is fitted with 16 wheels made from Vachellia nilotica hardwood. It has four ropes in the front, each 300 feet long which are used for pulling the ''ratha'' forward. There is one more rope at the back which acts as a brake. One of the front ropes is reserved for women.

The present ''ratha'' is the same chariot that was being used in the first year of the ''rathayatra''. It is nearly 280 years old. During the entire year the ''ratha'' is kept inside a giant metallic cage. Weeks before the festival it is brought out and prepared for the festival. As of 2012, the chariot was in a dilapidated condition. The Guptipara Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math have been providing patch work to the current structure every year as a stop gap solution. They have approached the district administration and the Archaeological Survey of India for repair.

Festival

Procession

The procession starts from Guptipara Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math and proceeds towards Gundicha house in Gosainganj Barabazar, about 1.5 km away. The distance covered is said to be the second longest among the rathayatras held in India.

''Bhandara loot''

The event is held on the day before the or the . According to Binay Ghosh, this event is a folk event and has nothing to do with the scriptures. On that day the worship of the deity is held behind closed doors at or Jagannath's aunt's place. After the worship, huge quantities of is offered to the deity. The consists of made of Gobindo bhog rice, a mixed vegetable dish, a paneer dish, brinjal and pumpkin fries, payesh, malpoa, khir, chhana, other sweets and fruits. The is kept in more than 400 or earthen bowls in an adjacent store room. Each contains nearly five kilograms of . The devotees begin to gather outside the store room from mid day. According to Binay Ghosh, the majority of the devotees in these event are the local Gops, some of whom rehearse for the event from the morning. The priest opens all the three door of the store room at 5 pm and the devotees rush inside the store to loot the . Many of the locals do not cook at home that night and even on the following day.

Devotees

Every year devotees from the districts of Burdwan, Nadia, Howrah and North 24 Parganas visit Guptipara to see the rathayatra.

See also

* Mahesh Rathayatra
* Dhamrai Rathayatra

References

{{Culture of West Bengal

Ratha Yatra
Festivals in West Bengal
Culture of West Bengal
Jagannath
Hooghly district