Mini raths play big role at the Puri rath yatra

GOD OF SMALL THINGS: Those who can't be part of the main festivities contribute with their miniatures versions of the rath.

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Puri: Tuesday is the second day Lord Jagannath's journey to the Gundecha temple, his birthplace.

The delay of a day meant the Lord had to spend a night on the chariot, and brought some extra work for a few children.

Thirteen-year-old Viswaranjan and Fourteen-year-old Chiku worked all of last week on their chariot. But when the Lord's rath stopped midway, their small chariot also couldn’t move forward. And even though the wait meant keeping vigil through the night, it didn't dampen the spirit of the youngsters.

“We saw Lord Jagannath's chariot and wanted to make one of our own. It was great fun,” said Chiku.

But the efforts of the children did not leave many a priests impressed.

“This is child's play,” said one of the priests.

But for the devotees all raths meant the same, and they didn't mind the children's exuberance.

“The Lord in there both in the big and small raths. For us his blessings can be sought at any place,” said one of the devotees, Deepali Dutta.

The main rath yatra takes place in Puri with the Sreemandir trust bringing out the huge chariot for Lord Balbhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. But the tradition of smaller raths being part of the main procession is seeped in every corner of Orissa. And those who can't be part of the main festivities contribute with their miniatures versions of the rath.

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