Villagers treat Lord's devotees with dignity

Sambalpur, June 30 : A darshan of Lord Jagannath, described as the lord of universe, is considered most auspicious for many people in Western Orissa villages deprived of the privilege.

A return from Puri after a darshan of Lord Jagannath during Ratha Yatra is treated with both devotion and dignity by the villagers.

''We see the Lord within the person who comes from Purusottam Khetra (Puri) and on his very arrival we worship him,'' says Ranjan Nayak of Rahang, an inaccessible village under Rairakhol sub-division of Sambalpur district.

''For us he is a totally different human being,'' Nayak remarked.

The villagers eagerly keep waiting for any individual or group's return from Puri during the car festival(Ratha Yatra).As soon as the person returns from Puri,all other villagers welcome him and treat him with dignity.

As they enter, the villagers wash their feet, pay them homage and bring them in a procession. Even elders do not hesitate to pay respect. They present them with a new napkin or coconut. ''Such a tradition is still practised in many villages,'' Gaura Nayak, a youth of Rahang village said.

During Ratha Yatra a number of Sankirtan Mandalis from different villages of western Orissa also visit Puri to show their devotion to the Lord and perform Sankirtan on the road before the three chariots.

''On their return, the villagers welcome them with tearful eyes and treat them like God,'' Binod Patra,the head of the Rahang Sankirtan Mandali said. This practice was followed in many villages of western districts, said Trilochan Meher of Jhillimunda under Bargarh district.

Worship of Lord Jagannath is more popular in Western Orissa where one would find more Jagannath temples than in Coastal Orissa, according to retired professor in History and a researcher of Jagannath cult D B Mishra.

UNI