During the Rath Yatra, the Baleswar town police have a big responsibility apart from maintenance of law and order.
The Town police station in fact organises the Car festival of the Jagannath temple at Banthia.
No matter who heads the police station, the chhera pahanra or the cleaning of the chariot with broom is performed by the head of the police station.
This year, the rituals were performed by incumbent IIC Sarojini Nayak.
It is most likely the only place in the State where the chherra pahanra is conducted by the in –charge of the town police station. The unique tradition has been continuing ever since the Rath Yatra in the Banthia Mandir in Motiganj began in 1976.
“I have been asked to perform the rituals by the temple committee. I did that what my predecessors did during their tenures as a mark of continuing the tradition. I consider myself fortunate to join the pious work for the second consecutive time,” Nayak said.
The temple committee recognises efforts of Inspector Pratap Dash who did a lot to renovate the dilapidated temple and began the chariot pulling for the trinity. “The Rath Yatra began in the temple after renovation. Consequently, the chherra pahanra is conducted only by the officer –in-charge of the police station,” said head priest of the temple Nibash Chandra Panda (75).
“The temple, which was in a dilapidated state, was rebuilt out of a lot of initiatives of the then Inspector Pratap Dash. While he was the first person to do the chherra pahanra, the tradition is continuing till date. During this car festival, the locals joined hand with police for smooth conduct of the festival,” he said .
“We inform the in-charge of the police station in advance about the rituals. He is offered with new Joda (clothes) and he conducts the rituals as per our tradition. The chariot is being pulled after receiving Agnyamala,” said temple committee secretary S Panda.
The locals feel that it is a noble tradition which has been continuing for years. It helps them in rapport building with public.
“The police station, on the other hand, offers Prasad to all the devotees accompanying the deities and also organizes a devotional programme which is conducted on every evening for 10 days in front of the police station. It gives a scope for a rapport building between the police and the local people,” social activist Bikram Panda said.