Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra of Puri is world famous. Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra Goncha takes place on the same lines in Jagdalpur, the tribal area of Chhattisgarh, in which the impression of the tribal society and its traditions can be clearly seen.
He has come out after being unwell. This is part of a story, no, it is a glimpse of the vibrant celebration that is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya will be celebrated as a great festival in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of tribal zone Bastar division. Yes, the same Bastar, which is now known only as a Naxalite-affected area, and in this propaganda, the aura of the multicolored culture there seems to be weakening. This festival is the festival of praise of Lord Jagannath. It is also celebrated on the same lines, but this vibrant festival has different specialties in the unique culture of the tribals. This tradition of Rath Yatra under Goncha in Bastar district has been going on continuously since 1408. This event is somewhat similar to the Gundicha festival of Jagannathpuri, but it has a different impression of the cultural traditions of Bastar. even reaching Bastar Gon Cha means the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. He has gone on a city tour with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Today he will give darshan to all the devotees without any discrimination. When he would go on a tour of the city riding on a chariot, it would be a wonderful sight. The main reason for this is that for several days Gudiya’s name has been changed to Goncha. This may have happened because of the effect of tribal accent. , However, Goncha Mahaparva is a complete cultural journey in itself, in which every caste, tribal and non-tribal participates. Devoted people come with the hope of glimpse and blessings of their Jagannath. The whole of Jagdalpur is filled to the brim, there is no place to keep sesame seeds. Jagannath’s hail everywhere Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra ride on all three chariots and go on a tour of the city, but the crowd has reduced a lot from before. This chariot starts from Sirasar in the city and completes its journey near the temple of Danteshwari through special paths. Maa Danteshwari is called Aaradhya Devi of Bastar and it is said that the teeth of Sati fell here in Bastar, that is why Danteshwari Peeth was built here. However when Lord Jagannath sets out on a journey, his glory is created on seeing it. Chariot decorated with colorful and special clothes of special colors. The servitors swaying on both sides and the command of this entire worker is in the hands of the Brahmin Aranyaka Samaj in 360 houses of Bastar. Although the main servants of God are the royal family of Bar, but after them this Odia Brahmin society is important.
The establishment of the deity in Bastar dates back to the Chalukya dynasty. It is said that a hundred years ago, in 1408, when Bastar was ruled by the Chalukya dynasty, King Purushottam Dev resolved to undertake a Rath Yatra to Jagannath Puri. He went to Puri with his soldiers in prostration, i.e. lying on the ground. Pleased with this, the Lord allowed him to celebrate Gundicha, i.e. Goncha. The Maharaja took with him one lakh gold coins and many Gifts were taken. This group stayed in Pura for a whole year, this place is still there today and is called Bastar Bada. Pleased, Lord Indradhumna, the then king of Odisha, appeared in a dream and said- ‘He should felicitate the king of Bastar and give him a 12-wheeled chariot as a mark of respect.’ Which was later divided into two parts by the Raj family. Now ■ three chariots of four wheels in Goncha and a single chariot of eight wheels comes out on Dussehra. On his return, 300 Odia Brahmin families also came to Bastar along with the Maharaja. In fact, from the point of view of the knowledge of God’s worship and rituals, he was settled in Bade Dongar, the then capital of Bastar. Later 60 more families came and settled in Bastar. These 360 houses were called Aranyak Brahmin family. The word Aranyak was associated with them because 60 Brahmin families around Sambalpur were living in the forest after being terrorized by the Mughals. Earlier they settled in Naimisharanya.
With the passage of time in Bastar, even though the aura of Goncha may not be the same as it was before, its taste is still visible. The whole city gathers to welcome the Lord. Village after village of Bastar becomes empty. A fair is held in the city. Tribals participate in the fair by taking all kinds of grains, green vegetables and traditional artefacts. Earlier there used to be an influx of tourist tax for them. Even now the Government of Chhattisgarh is trying to publicize it as before. People try to get close to the chariot with the Lord riding on it. In fact, the Prasad of Gaja Moong, i.e. Sprouted Moong and Jaggery, is distributed to them from the chariot. People get blessed after getting this. After all, this moong is very dear to God. Anyway, in Goncha, God comes out after several days of illness. He has been in a closed room for nine days. And his diet is going on, so he is eating sprouted moong, tulsi leaves and funnus koya, that is, ripe jackfruit. A sudden heavy meal is not good for them. Gaja moong is also a symbol of friendship. People swear friendship by giving each other a handful of sprouted moong. And with this they become ‘Mahaprasad’ among themselves they do not take each other’s name, they call each other as ‘Mahaprasad’. Rath Yatra Goncha festival is definitely an important day, but it is not the first day. Will return to Sirasar after giving darshan of God. He will sit there for ten days. During this, the Aranyaka Samaj will worship him daily. There will be colorful programs and competitions. Anyway, this is the new year of God. Whenever two Ashads fall, a grand celebration of Nava Kalevar takes place. The whole appearance of God changes. That’s why there is a grand event in Puri this time and there will not be enough space anywhere. Lakhs of people will reach from all over the world.
They do not take each other’s name, they call each other as ‘Mahaprasad’. Rath Yatra Goncha festival is definitely an important day, but it is not the first day. Will return to Sirasar after giving darshan of God. He will sit there for ten days. During this, the Aranyaka Samaj will worship him daily. There will be colorful programs and competitions. Anyway, this is the new year of God. Whenever two Ashads fall, a grand celebration of Nava Kalevar takes place. The whole appearance of God changes. That’s why there is a grand event in Puri this time and there will not be enough space anywhere. Lakhs of people will reach from all over the world.
The specialty of Bastar’s Goncha is yours. The whole city resounds with the rapidity of Tupki. Children and youth keep roaming around with you in hand. Young men and women come dressed in traditional costumes. They throw insults at each other. This is a special kind of respect to the God of the tribal society. There is no such example anywhere in the world. Tupki means cannon. This is the tribal alternative to the ‘guard of honour’ to the God. By inserting the fruits of Malkagni in the bamboo poli tube, it is pushed forward from behind in Tupki with a rod made of bamboo itself, it emits a sound like a gun. The range of Tupki’s hit is 15 to 20 feet. This beat is important for every devotee. Sometimes accidents also happen due to this beating. Many times the new people get angry, but for the tribal youth, this is entertainment related to faith. If in this fight of yours If the matter is settled then the path of married life is clear. People prepare for this festival for months. They bring bamboo and make straws. Different decorations are done on Tupki made of palm leaves. Decorate it with paper according to your imagination. They even make guns and birds. Peng, i.e. the green fruits of Malkagni, they pluck from the forest. It is the season of Malkagni. Malkagni creepers are entwined in the forest. The tribals call it Peng. When the tribal youths use tupki on the girls, then the girls giggle and laugh because of it. Bastar’s Goncha is a very colorful event. This is the biggest festival of the people of Bastar after Dussehra.
Rath Yatra in Goncha is just a ritual. By the way, the event starts many days before with the Chandan Yatra. On this day God is worshiped in detail. After this, due to Ashadh Krishna Pratipada, Lord gets ill for 15 days and gets locked in the cupboard. This is called Ansar. meanwhile god the treatment continues. They come back out on Ashadha Shukla Pratipada. This day is called Netrotsav. The next day is of his grand journey. Just returning, God sits in Sirasar for nine days, then his worship and care is the responsibility of the Aranyak Samaj. God resides here till Ashadh Shukla Dashami. Now anyone can visit him.
The Lord had left without informing with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Goddess Lakshmi, wife of Jagannath, did not like this thing. She gets very angry and goes out to find them. On the day of Ashadh Shukla Panchami, the goddess learns that the Lord is in the symbolic Janakpuri, i.e., Sirasar, with his siblings. He has a fierce argument with God. The two sides of the Aranyaka society argue on behalf of the gods. Lakshmi reprimands. God argues. This is called ‘Hera Panchami’. The dialogue is in Odia language and sung in unison. When God gets up from here and reaches back to the temple, angry Lakshmi does not allow him to enter the temple. She angrily closes the door. This is Ashadh Shukla Dashami, which means ‘Bahda Goncha’. God is celebrating Lakshmi standing outside the temple. Just the next day, i.e. Ekadashi is considered as goddess, but after gifts and manuhar. God is very tired, so he goes to sleep. In India it is called ‘Devshayani Ekadashi’, but in Bastar it is called ‘Kapatheda’, which means ‘opening the door’. All auspicious works stop from this day. God is sleeping. There should be no disturbance in sleep for four months. Only after four months there will be conch and tumul sounds. God will wake up on Tulsi marriage after four months, just till then goodbye.
That the state government is also taking interest in its promotion. Earlier the British also used to cooperate in celebrating Goncha festival. In 1896, the British Diwan Colonel J. Pagan attended Goncha with his entire family. After that a temple committee was formed for the event. After independence, this festival went on shrinking. Its command came in the hands of the Tehsildar instead of the Temple Committee, until Bastar Maharaja Praveer Chandra Bhanjdev was killed in the famous shootout, Goncha’s glory continued. Later Goncha’s seven chariots were replaced by three. Now Goncha is waiting for people’s participation, government’s help and tourists.
Ira Jha
(The author is a senior journalist)
Kadambini July 2015
Reviews
There are no reviews yet