PEOPLE OF COOCH BEHAR CELEBRATES RATHAYATRA

By Pradip Kundu (TNI Cooch Behar) ~ Edited By Ishita Das (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Cooch Behar, 19th July, 2015: Lord Krishna, aka Jagannath, who is also known as Madanmohan in CoochBehar especially, was established by the then ruler of Cooch Behar, Raja NaraNarayana in the famous Madanmohan Temple. Following the rituals of Cooch Behar Debatra Trust, the ‘Rathayatra’ ceremony happens to be started after the “Mahasnan”(the bathing of the Gods). After taking worship, Madanmohan, with his elder brother Balaram and sister Suvadra, undertakes His journey to their maternal aunt’s home riding in a richly decorated chariot, which is called as Rath. This is why the festival is known as the auspicious “RATHA YATRA”. After a week, they return back to their home. This is called the “ULTORATH”. Mr. Amio Kumar DebBakshi, the oldest and honorable personality, then the District Magistrate and the other members of the Debatra Trust hold the large rope of the Rath respectively and the procession starts. After completing the successful journey through the main roads of the town, the Rath reaches the destination i.e, the aunt’s home at Gunjabari. To hold the rope and for begging worship, most of the people of the town come forward. There starts a fair which becomes overcrowded. In the Ultorath, the fair will be located at the Madanmohan Temple, the home of Madanmohan. In Tufanganj, the sub-division of Cooch Behar, the 126th years old Rathayatra starts from the Gopiballav Temple and ends at the jail maidan. Mr. Ananta Barma, the Sub-Divisional-Officer first holds the rope and announces the journey. Thus in the day of Id-ul-fitter, everybody enjoys the Rathayatra forgetting their caste and creed. Here lies the success of both the festivals.

Photo: Pradip Kundu (TNI)