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Here the idols take casual rest and receive offerings
The representative images of the deities installed in
temples such as “Madanmohana” (representing Lord
Jagannatha), “Laxmi” and “Saraswati” are taken in a
richly decorated palanquin by the ‘Sevakas’ accompanied
by priests, musicians and dancers to the Narendra
Sarobar at night.
The tank is decorated with lights and flowers.
Thousands of spectators jam-packed all around in
expectation of the arrival of the procession of deities.
On well decorated palanquins or Dolis called as Vimanas
comes the first set of deities Laxmi,Saraswati and
Madanmohan.In the next set two deities Rama and Krishna
comes and in the third set adorning in five vimanas
comes the five representatives of lord Siva or chalanti
pratimas of Siva named as Panchu Pandav.
After reaching the Narendra Sarobar, the idols are then
placed in small cubical water tanks of about 1 ft by
1ft.These tanks are filled with water flavored in
sandalwood paste and jasmine and some other favoring
articles.After resting a while the deities are placed on
different well-decorated boats and they are rowed for a
long time by the Sevakas. During the rowing ceremony
‘Devadasis’ (temple-dancers) dance and sing on the boat.
Generally, the colours chosen for the boats are red and
white and they are so designed to look like huge swans
floating on water. The peculiarity of the ceremony is
that Madanmohana with Laxmi and Saraswati rides on the
white coloured raft where-as Ramakrishna with “Pancha
Shivas” rides the red one. All the deities on the boat
take several rounds in the water, which continue till
early hours of the morning and then retire to the
respective shrines. The last day of the festival is
called “Bhaunri” (’Bhramari’ or circle) when special
elaborate arrangements are made.
Most of the important festivals of Lord Jagannatha at
Puri are also followed in all other important shrines of
Orissa. Following tradition of the Puri the idols are
taken out in procession on palanquins to the nearby
tanks and take rounds in water on boats. In all such
temples it is observed only for the last three days.
After the ceremony, which usually takes place at
mid-night, people enjoy performances of dance, drama and
music specially arranged for this occasion.
Click here for
Chandan Yatra Video |
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