Puri Ratha Yatra - Way to heaven (Part II)

...Continued

The only reason my sister-in-law was moving forward was to see Lord Jagannath who we thought was next to follow Lord Balaram. So with that thought in mind, we waited for the red and black chariot to cross us with a wave of crowd bigger than what we felt for Lord Balaram. But there were hardly any people around and we got a good darshan of the deity inside the beautifully decorated red and black chariot. Everyone was still shouting 'Jai Jagannath' but the magnitude of the collective voice was not so much. We were so happy and surprised at the same time. And I was relieved.

Subradra's Chariot at Gundicha Temple

Crowd cheering for Subadra

Again, I tried convincing my sister-in-law to go back home because I felt it was fine if we missed Subhadra's procession. But she said that we might not be able to visit again so we might as well get this over with. I think I panicked more than my little niece on that occasion. In my defense, I couldn't handle the crowd at my wedding so this felt like the whole country was on the road that day. As we kept moving towards the red and yellow adorned ratha, I felt the wave again. We all felt it. Even the priests in the ratha guarded by the police who were making way felt it. And we were wondering why everyone was so interested in seeing Subhadra so much. This crowd was not like the crowd for Lord Balaram's chariot. I don't know where people started joining this crowd suddenly but I swear there were more. In one road, one way road, no exits in the middle but there were more people than we started with! And this time, I wouldn't call it 'getting crushed'. You have to come up with a whole new word for it. All through the procession people were shouting 'Jai jagannath' so there was no reason to think for a second that the red and yellow ratha was Jagannath. We managed a good darshan of the deity and got the holy water and flowers from the red and yellow chariot anyway. We even touched the rope people were fighting for! The atmosphere there changed completely, nobody cared about getting crushed or stamped, old people squeezed in and struggled, it was drizzling, people were wet from rain and others' sweat but none of this mattered. God was there in the air, in the mind, in the heart and soul and on that road that day. Nothing could have deterred the crowd from this belief and I think nothing ever will. I just looked around and let the scene sink in. I couldn't move, I had no space to breathe, I was probably standing on one leg, there is no way to know. But the sight of stark belief in front of my eyes was more treasure-able than the ratha yatra itself. As the ratha moved away, the crowd immediately dissolved and we breathed after a long time.

Crowd waiting for Lord Jagannath

Devotees approaching Lord Jagannath's ratha for prasad

I immediately pulled my sister-in-law's hand before she decided to drown me in some other crowd in some other part of the world and I kept walking towards Gundicha temple to exit, as if my life depended on it. And in fact, it did. We walked fast, one behind the other. On the way back, we noticed the colors of the festival that we missed on our way to rathas. Sweet stall, lamps, skits from various scenes of Indian epics, local food stalls, toys for kids, souvenirs, photos of rathas and three deities framed, holy thread, ambulance to pick unconscious devotees and what not.

Diyas lighting up devotees' prayers

Local kachori vendor

We reached Gundicha temple entrance and snapped pictures of Lord Balaram's chariot and the red and black chariot thinking it was Lord Jagannath and left in auto to our parking spot. It was dark by then and the auto driver abandoned us far away from the parking spot so we had to drag our tired bodies for more than two kilometers.

Lord Balaram's Chariot at Gundicha Temple

Enjoying selfie with God

Lord Balaram and Subadra waiting for Lord Jagannath to join them at Gundicha Temple

The next morning, my cousin read in the news that Lord Jagannath's ratha was stuck on the road and did not reach Gundicha temple the previous day and we looked at each other confused. Then suddenly everything made sense! We uttered together, "Thank God we waited to see the red and yellow chariot!"

My sister-in-law said sarcastically, "Yeah sure, thank GOD!"

Little things: Visit Lord Jagannath in Jagannath temple before the yatra and Gundicha temple after the yatra. Try the local sweet in the stalls along the road and be a part of the 'touching the rope' craziness for a lasting memory.

Tip from the trip: Do not bring any camera or wear expensive jewels or carry lot of money in wallet. Remember where you park your vehicle in the open ground and wear proper boots or footwear that can handle the muddy ground in rain. Make sure that you get dropped at the same spot where you were picked up from because auto drivers are in a hurry to transport millions of people back. I'd say this is not suitable for kids or elderly people but my niece survived and is safe so if you are a crowd-hater like me, avoid this festival, it is not for you. Otherwise, be prepared to get crushed and suffocated but also to be amazed and for an experience of a lifetime.

Souvenir: I got a shining fridge magnet of the three deities.

Photo Credits: Me

Visit: 14.07.2018