The Essence of the Car Festival
जय जगन्नाथ
The qartite form of the almighty (Bhagwan Jagannath, Balbhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra) relinquishes his eternal throne glorified as the Ratna vedi i.e. Jem studded altar and depart for seven days at a stretch.
Such a modus operandi of Bhagwan Jagannath is universally famed as the car festival or chariot Journey festival. As the very epithet of this sacrosanct function illustrates, Bhagwan Jagannath travels ascending the chariot. Chariot stands for ecstasy as expounded by the ved. It incinerates any kind of scepticism whatsoever here since Bhagwan Jagannath Joruneys to disburse ecstasy, to dispel ourr grief and delirium and above all , to assure us of a bright prosperous life .
At the sametime Sage Jamini clarifies in the skand Puran in the following words:-
Bhagwan Jagnnath travels to the Gundicha temple with immense curiosity in order to preserve the dignity of his previous assurance to indradyumna every year that he will remain enshrined there for seven days.
Here , ofcourse a question arises who this indradyumna is As a matter of fact, he was a descendant of Brahma and the King of Avanti who had resolved to get a marvellous temple constructed to accomodate the quartite form of Bhagwan . Ultimately, he succeeded in his pious mission, Brahma himself had installed Bhagwan in that temple by duly deifying. Bhagwan had to promise out of sheer affection for him that he would stay at the pavilion of Gundicha who happens to be the beloved consort of the king . She is also postulated to be “mausi maa” of Bhagwan.
The Gundicha pavilion is situated in the south of Nrisingh Dev’s temple and the Indradyumna sarovar( pond). Hermit Jamini emphatically reiterates that Bhagwan is sedant there as if he has resumed human apperance whose divine glory is incomprehensible even for deities, as well as demons.
Krishna proclaims “ I am the samved among vedas. Obviously, the samved depicts the melodious nuance and the aesthetic truth of musical learning. It vindicates that Bhagwan likes singing and dancing with musical instruments”
At the time of his temporal stay, he is worshipped with all the ingredients and formalities as the ved has legislated. Various food stuffs alongwith beverages are dedicated to as Navedya or Mahaprasad. This is why the ministrel continue to entertain Bhagwan by their melodious songs. All the other places for pilgrimage have presence there as long as Bhagwan resides. Even the deities vie for accompanying the chariot Journey.
First of all, Bhagwan is adored following the Vedic doctrine and then his travel starts with benediction so as to assuage any probable omnious eventuality . The fortunate devotees commute with him throughout the Journeying time. They sing , dance and chant paean with playing on multiple instruments.
A well oriented procession is taken out in his honour Such an exhilarating procession resonates with the atmosphere altogether that makes us experience the unique sense of divinity. It is such a divinity which alone can elevate the spectators to the zenith of bliss, the most precious treasure of life. For his outing, a well adorned passage is meticulously designed lest he should have any inconvenience. The devotees volunteer all kinds of service to him so that the Journey can be relaxing one.
His itinerary starts from the day of Akshay Tritiya when the timber for chariot construction is availed of with the performance of a यज्ञ ( sacrificial ritual)
Because, Bhagwan is enshrined in यज्ञ. Whenever he is invoked, a ritual is performed with a grand celebration.
वेदानां सामवेदोडस्मि
At first devotees invoke his quartite form abiding by the vedic tradition. Benediction and paean is emotionally uttered in praise of him. Only then Bhagwan leaves for the Gundicha pavilion where he will be glittering for seven days in all. A large number of worshippers escort him in utter reverence.
The path of his outing is exceptionally beautified and demarcated, On both the sides of his way participants emulate with one another how to have at least a glance of his, since Bhagwan is traversing, he is our greatest well wisher, he will fulfill all our human pursuits. Some prostrate, some bow down, some stand greeting, some rain flowers, some sprinkles fragrance, some hold umbrella and fans, some unfurl flags, some guide , some clean the way sweeping by with a broom. Some render other services, some sing , some dance, some play on instruments like chime etc. Some acclaim and applaud , some recite hymns , some converse about its marvel. Others merely observe in wonder what a miracle is to be unravelled. The scenario is as if it were a tug of war how to placate Bhagwan anyhow. No where do we find a festival like this which is enough to imbue all the creatures with the culmination of bliss.
Even the paradise scatters divine flower and droplets of Ganga water on Bhagwan during his Joruney.
Our Jagnnath Temple Hauz Khas is all set to celebrate the forthcoming car festival in a pompous yet sacred manner in line with the Puri dham pattern. SNSS is avidly indulged in its orderly preparations under the apt stewardship of Sh. Ravindra Nath Pradhan Secretary.
Please, do participate in this magnificent festival, it is our kind request.
Jai Jagannath
