'हिंदू, मुस्लिम, सिख, ईसाई, आपस में सब भाई भाई। '
The feeling of
secularism is deeply imbued in the Indian democratic fabric. Since time
immemorial, people from different religions have been accepted as children of this
land, with its wide open arms. However, it is heart-wrenching when at crucial
times, religion has been used as a weapon to break the dynamism of this beautiful
country.
The essence of Bhagwad
Gita, Bible, Quran and other religious texts are the same. They all teach to
attain individual liberty, peace, harmony and spread happiness amongst every other creation of God. If this is the teaching of every religion, then how humane it is to cause the
deprivation, decay and death of fellow humans just to prove that one's God is
mightier than the other? Do our God's really preach intolerance, hatred and
bitterness against other religions? These questions have afflicted the entire
world for long now.
'Has it really been so long since religions persecuted people, burning them as heretics, drowning them as witches, that you can't recognize religious persecution when you see it?'~Salman Rushdie
Happenings in our
country, in the past, has brought these issues to the forefront time and again, shaking the country to the core. The minority, in each state, territory
and locality leads a life of fear, fear of being associated with the religion
of their belief, fear of being persecuted for following the set of practices which their hearts and
minds relate to, fear for having faith in the force that they believe to be
their God.
Religion is merely a
system of beliefs, values and practices that individuals follow.
This should never out-step its boundaries to embitter the broader umbrella of Humanity. Our country and its
people are not intolerant. We still celebrate festivals of different religions together, with great happiness and mirth. We still have friendly and familial ties with people
beyond the borders of our own religion. I feel proud to be part of this secular
democracy where religious diversity and religious tolerance are established
both by law and custom.
Let this beautiful
country not break and shatter into pieces just on the pretext of religion.
Eid and Rath Yatra:
Today is a blissful day as we celebrate Eid and Rath Yatra together.
Eid Mubarak and Happy Rath Yatra to all my dear readers. As much as I can
recall, for the past three years we have been celebrating both these diverse
festivals on the same day.
Eid- Ul- Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) is celebrated to
mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Rath Yatra is the annual
car festival celebrated by Hindus in which the deities Balabhadra,
Subhadra and Jagannath are carried on Chariots to
their Mausi (maternal aunt's) house.
Being born in
Odisha, in a Hindu family, Rath Yatra is quite close to my heart. So through
this post, let me give you a closer glimpse of Rath Yatra or the 'Car
Festival'.
Rath
Yatra in Odisha:
Rath Yatra, colloquially
known as 'Ratha Jatra' originated in the town of Puri in Odisha which is the
abode of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The
festival dates back to 10th-11th century. It is celebrated in the Hindu
month of Ashadha (Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya Paksha - second day in bright
fortnight of Ashadha month) to commemorate
Lord Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (Maternal Aunt's home)
in Puri. It is celebrated as a nine day festival in which Lord Jagannath,
Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a procession to Gundicha Temple.
After a seven day stay in Gundicha Mandir, the deities return to the main
temple on the ninth day which is known as 'Bahuda Jatra'.
The festival is called as 'Ratha Jatra' as the
deities visit their Mausi's home in their Chariots i.e;
'Ratha'. Three richly decorated chariots, with the deities adorning them,
are pulled through the streets of Puri called Badadanda. Lord
Jagannath rides in his chariot 'Nandighosha', Balabhadra in 'Taladhwaja'
and Subhadra in 'Darpadalana'. This marks the beginning of the
annual journey to their aunt's temple, the Gundicha Temple which is
situated at a distance of 2 km from Jagannath temple. After the
chariots return to the main temple from the Gundicha temple, the deities
are attired in gold ornaments and worshiped on the chariots. This celebration
is known as 'Suna Besha'.
This post is dedicated
to the religious diversity of our country and its people. It is dedicated to
Eid and Rath Yatra. Hoping that this Rath Yatra and Eid usher in great
happiness and shower God's blessings on you all.
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| 'Despair not from your Lord's Blessings. If he had wished that you reach the Hell fire eternally, he would not have inspired your heart towards him' ~ Imam Shafi ~ Observing Ramadan at Jama Masjid, Old Delhi
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| 'Faith that stands high as the Tomb' ~ Jama Masjid, Old Delhi |
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| 'The faith that ties them together' ~Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai |
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| ~ Paraphernalia for the Ritual |
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| ~Celebrating Rath Yatra at home away from Home |
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| 'जय जगन्नाथ। ' |
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| नीलाचल निवासाय नित्याय परमात्मने, बलभद्र, शुभद्राभ्यम, जगन्नाथाय ते नमः। |
Have faith and everything will fall into place!
Signing off With Rumi's quote:" Knock, And He' ll open the door
Vanish, And He' ll make you shine like the sun
Fall, And He' ll raise you to heavens
Become nothing, And He' ll turn you into everything."~ Rumi
