Celebrating it Together

'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. 

'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

'The Line of Faith in the Almighty, in the Allah'
~Jama Masjid, Old Delhi

'Faith that stands high as the Tomb'
~ Jama Masjid, Old Delhi

'The faith that ties them together'
~Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai

~ Paraphernalia for the Ritual

~Celebrating Rath Yatra at home away from Home

'जय जगन्नाथ। '

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