Chandana yatra It falls in the month of Vaisakha, on sukla Tritiya, a day also called Akshaya Tritiya observed as a country festival all over Orissa with the ceremonial sowing of the seeds for the next harvest and offerings to Lakshmi Devi or Anna Lakshmi. Akshaya Tritiya is also known as the day when Ganga first descended to the Earth. However, the most important significance of the Chandana yatra festival is celebrated in Puri as an occasion to please the Deities with refreshing applications of sandalwood paste (chandana) and daily pleasure boat rides that offer ample opportunities for interactions between the Lord and His devotees. The festival lasts for 21 days in Narendra sarovara (bahara chandana) and another 21 days in the Jala Krida Mandapa inside Jagannatha temple (bhitara chandana). The last day of the external festival is called Bhaunri (from bhramari or “going in circles”). The boats move around touching each corner for 21 times. One of the Khuntia Sevakas is engaged to constantly offer flowers to the Deities and the boats are sprinkled with turmeric water. The internal (private) festival is performed in the Jala Krida Mandapa inside the temple, and the Deities are immersed in brass vessels filled with sandalwood water. The names Chandana Yatra and Gandhalepana Yatra (another name of this festival) are derived from the refreshing sandalwood paste (chandana) used to smear the Deities with the purpose of cooling Their bodies in the heat of the summer. Sandalwood paste is a favorite offering for Jagannatha, especially when mixed with Tulasi leaves. The sandalwood is provided by the Raghava Dasa Matha and is consecrated on the Dvitiya day, one day before the beginning of the festival. For the whole period the Deities of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra are dressed in the Chandana vesa, a special white silk cloth, 12 x 3 feet, called phula badi cheda. Madana Mohana is dressed with different outfits every day: day 1: Tritiya, Natavara vesha day 2: Chaturthi, Hari janma vesha day 3: Panchami, Khatadoli vesha day 4: Sasthi, Rajadhiraja vesha day 5: Saptami, Vatsacharana vesha day 6: Ashtami, Vatsaharana vesha day 7: Navami, Gomati krsna vesha day 8: Dasami, Aghasura bada vesha day 9: Ekadasi, Chakra Narayana vesha day 10: Dvadasi, Navakeli vesha day 11: Trayodasi, Rasa mandali vesha day 12: Chaturdasi, Nrisimha vesha day 13: Purnima, Kandarpa ratha vesha day 14: Pratipat, Sad bhuja Gouranga vesha day 15: Dvitiya, Raghunatha vesha day 16: Tritiya, Vastra harana vesha day 17: Chaturthi, Giri puja vesha day 18: Panchami, Giri teka vesha day 19: Sasthi — (no special vesha, just regular outfit) day 20: Saptami, Gajoddarana vesha
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:12:17 +0000
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