The Rath Yatra in Baleswar town is unique in itself. It is being observed since the late 70s with a difference.
The Town police station shoulders the responsibilities of the Car Festival of a Jagannath temple in the headquarters town.
The Chhera Pahnra (ceremonial sweeping of the chariot surface with broom sticks before pulling of the chariot) is performed by the IIC of the police station.
It is perhaps the only place in the State where the ritual is conducted by the police. The unique tradition is maintained at the ‘Banthia Mandir’ in Motiganj, which began in 1976. Town police station IIC Dillip Das performed the rituals this year.
“I have been asked to perform the rituals by the temple committee. I did what my predecessors did during their tenures as a mark of continuing the traditions,” Das said.
“I also observed other associated rituals before the chherra pahara and indeed I consider myself to be fortunate to shoulder the responsibilities,” he said.
The temple committee recognizes efforts of one Inspector Pratap Dash who did a lot to renovate the dilapidated temple and began the chariot pulling for the trinity.
“Ever since the Rath Yatra began for this temple after renovation, the chherra pahara is conducted only by the officer –in-charge of the Town police station,” said Nibash Chandra Panda (72), the head priest of the temple.
“The temple, which was in a dilapidated state, was rebuilt out of a lot of initiatives of the then Inspector Dash. While he was the first person to do the chherra pahara, the tradition is continuing till date. During this Car Festival, the locals joined hand with the 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 out tradition. The chariot is being pulled after receiving Agnya mala, the permission from the universal god,” 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.
“A tradition built by a police officer is continuing till date uninterrupted. Most likely, the Rath Yatra of Baleswar town’s Jagannath Mandir is unique in the sense that the head of the police station remains present during the phandi bije and he conducts chherra pahara,” said Girija Das , a social activist .
“The police station , on the other hand, while offers ‘prasad’ to all the devotees accompanying the deities, it also erects a stage for cultural programme which is conducted on each 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,” he said.