The biggest festival in Keonjhar district witnessed by 10 million people, called Bada Jatra, concluded with much fanfare in spite of inclement weather that prevailed during the last week.
lord Baladev Jew, worshipped as the supreme deity of Keonjhar district over last 500 years, was taken on a chariot ride along with His brother lord Jagannath and sister Goddess Subhadra to their Mausi Maa’s house on July 14 where they stayed for 8 days.
Although this Ratha Yatra has many similarities in rituals and customs with Puri, there is a distinct mark of tribal influence in the Bada Yatra.
The chariot of lord Baladev jew is Nandi Ghosha instead of Taladwaja as in Puri and this chariot is said to be the biggest and tallest chariot with a height more than 73feet.
The rope used to pull the chariot is made from Siali creeper unlike coir rope used in Puri. Goddess Subhadra is red in color instead of yellow as in Puri. Apart from this there are some special rituals and customs observed in the Keonjhar Rath Yatra. The deities returned back on the same chariot on the Bahuda on July 22 and appeared before the devotees with their jewelleries and ornaments (Suna Besha) on Monday before they were to enter the temple. The 10- day festival was colorful with varieties of cultural dances and bhajan programmes every evening.
Free food, water and sweets distribution was organised by some local organisations. The temple administration and other line departments including the police worked hard to organise the mega festival in a disciplined manner.