>Serols at 16:34, 16 February 2021

2021-02-16T16:34:53Z

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{{Infobox Rathayatra
| name = Rathayatra of Guptipara
| image = Guptipara Rath.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| founded = 1740
| founded_by = Swami Madhusudananda
| abolished =
| abolished_by =
| place = Guptipara, [[Hooghly district|Hooghly District]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| organizer = Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math
| ratha_height = 36 feet
| ratha weight = 125 tons
| ratha_base = 34 feet X 34 feet
| ratha_wheels = 16
| ratha_style = [[Nabaratna]]
| ratha_architect=
| ratha_patron =
| footnotes =
}}

The '''Guptipara Rathayatra''' is being celebrated in [[Guptipara]] in [[Hooghly district|Hooghly District]] of [[West Bengal]] since the 1730s. The chariot is a [[nabaratna]]-style wooden temple, where the presiding deity in the chariot is that of Radharaman Jiu. The Guptipara Rathayatra is second only to the Puri Rathayatra in terms of the distance covered. One of the unique events of Guptipara Rathayatra is the ''bhandara loot'', which is held a day before the ''purnayatra'' or the ''ulto rath''. A month long fair is held in Guptipara on the occasion of the festival. Every year thousands of devotees take part in the festival.<ref name="eenadu">{{cite news|url=http://bangla.eenaduindia.com/State/Hooghly/2015/07/19081804/Guptipara-RathJatra-Celebration.vpf|script-title=bn:২৭৬ তম রথযাত্রা পালন গুপ্তিপাড়ায়|date=19 July 2015|work=Eenadu India|language=Bengali|accessdate=19 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817015135/http://bangla.eenaduindia.com/State/Hooghly/2015/07/19081804/Guptipara-RathJatra-Celebration.vpf|archive-date=17 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
The year when the rathayatra started is not clear. According to some sources, the rathayatra is more than 400 years old. According to other sources, the rathayatra started somewhere between 1735 and 1740. According to another source Swami Madhusudanananda of Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math started the ''rathayatra'' in the year 1740.<ref name="dj05072016">{{cite news|url=http://www.dainikjugasankha.in/index.php?archive=05.07.2016&city=3|script-title=bn:রথে জেগে উঠছে গুপ্তিপাড়া, বাংলার বনেদিবাড়ি|last1=Sengupta|first1=Ashok|last2=Mandal|first2=Tapas|date=5 July 2016|work=Dainik Jugashankha|language=Bengali|accessdate=6 July 2016|location=Kolkata|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811043142/http://www.dainikjugasankha.in/index.php?archive=05.07.2016&city=3|archive-date=11 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1858, one lakh devotees participated in the ''bhandara loot'', according to Swami Govindananda Puri of Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math. In 1873, Swami Prithananda, the ''dandiswami'' of Shree Shree Vrindavana Chandra Jiu was run over during the ''rathyatra'' in an accident.<ref name="dj05072016"/> Following that incident, the number of ''[[shikhara]]''s of the ''ratha'' was reduced from thirteen to nine.<ref name="dj05072016"/>

== Chariot ==
[[File:Chariot_of_Guptipara.jpg|thumb|Chariot of Guptipara]]

The present ''ratha'' or the chariot is a wooden Nabaratna temple<ref>{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/bengali/zila/west-bengal-rath_129658.html|script-title=bn:রথের মেলায় সেজে উঠল বাংলা|date=18 July 2015|work=24 Ghanta|publisher=Zee News|language=Bengali|accessdate=5 July 2016}}</ref> having nine ''[[shikhara]]''s. The framework of the ''ratha'' is made of [[Shorea robusta]] [[hardwood]].<ref name="dj05072016"/> The ''ratha'' has a square base measuring 34 feet by 34 feet.<ref name="abp18072015">{{cite news|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/district/dhaksinbanga/howrah-hoogly/%E0%A6%AD-%E0%A6%A3-%E0%A6%A1-%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%A0-%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%97-%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AA-%E0%A6%A1-1.177994|script-title=bn:ভাণ্ডারা লুঠের প্রতীক্ষায় গুপ্তিপাড়া|last=Sengupta|first=Ashok|date=18 July 2015|work=Anandabazar Patrika|publisher=ABP Group|language=Bengali|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> It is four storied, having a height of 36 feet.<ref name="abp18072015"/> The ''ratha'' is fitted with 16 wheels made from [[Vachellia nilotica]] hardwood.<ref name="dj05072016"/> It has four ropes in the front, each 300 feet long which are used for pulling the ''ratha'' forward. There is one more rope at the back which acts as a brake. One of the front ropes is reserved for women.

The present ''ratha'' is the same chariot that was being used in the first year of the ''rathayatra''. It is nearly 280 years old.<ref name="abp18072015"/> During the entire year the ''ratha'' is kept inside a giant metallic cage. Weeks before the festival it is brought out and prepared for the festival. As of 2012, the chariot was in a dilapidated condition.<ref name="abp21062012">{{cite news|url=http://archives.anandabazar.com/archive/1120621/21south-rath.html|script-title=bn:মাহেশ, গুপ্তিপাড়া ও চন্দননগরে কড়া নজরদারি|last=Ghosh|first=Tapas|date=21 June 2012|work=Anandabazar Patrika|publisher=ABP Group|language=Bengali|accessdate=5 July 2016}}</ref> The Guptipara Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math have been providing patch work to the current structure every year as a stop gap solution. They have approached the district administration and the Archaeological Survey of India for repair.<ref name="abp21062012"/>

== Festival ==
=== Procession ===
The procession starts from Guptipara Shree Shree Vrindavan Chandra Jiu Math and proceeds towards Gundicha house in Gosainganj Barabazar, about 1.5 km away. The distance covered is said to be the second longest among the rathayatras held in India.<ref name="tt06092009">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090906/jsp/calcutta/story_11457400.jsp|title=Next weekend you can be at ... Guptipara|last=Datta|first=Rangan|date=6 September 2009|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=6 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403055652/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090906/jsp/calcutta/story_11457400.jsp|archive-date=3 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== ''Bhandara loot'' ===
The {{transl|bn|mbhandara loot}} event is held on the day before the {{transl|bn|mpurnayatra}} or the {{transl|bn|multo rath}}.<ref name="tt06092009"/> According to Binay Ghosh, this event is a folk event and has nothing to do with the scriptures.<ref name="ghosh1978">{{cite book|last=Ghosh|first=Binay|title=Paschimbanger Sanskriti|volume=III|year=1978|publisher=Prakash Bhavan|language=Bengali|page=272}}</ref> On that day the worship of the deity is held behind closed doors at {{transl|bn|mmashir bari}} or Jagannath's aunt's place. After the worship, huge quantities of {{transl|bn|mprasada}} is offered to the deity. The {{transl|bn|mprasada}} consists of {{transl|bn|[[khichuri]]}} made of [[Gobindobhog]] rice, {{transl|bn|mlabra}} a mixed vegetable dish, a [[paneer]] dish, [[brinjal]] and [[pumpkin]] fries, [[kheer|payesh]], [[malpoa]], khir, chhana, other sweets and fruits.<ref name="abp18072015"/> The {{transl|bn|mprasada}} is kept in more than 400 {{transl|bn|malsas}} or earthen bowls in an adjacent store room.<ref name="abp18072015"/> Each {{transl|bn|mmalsa}} contains nearly five kilograms of {{transl|bn|mprasada}}. The devotees begin to gather outside the store room from mid day. According to Binay Ghosh, the majority of the devotees in these event are the local [[Sadgop|Gops]], some of whom rehearse for the event from the morning.<ref name="ghosh1978"/> The priest opens all the three door of the store room at 5 pm and the devotees rush inside the store to loot the {{transl|bn|mprasada}}. Many of the locals do not cook at home that night and even on the following day.<ref name="abp18072015"/>

== Devotees ==
Every year devotees from the districts of [[Burdwan district|Burdwan]], [[Nadia district|Nadia]], [[Howrah district|Howrah]] and [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Parganas]] visit Guptipara to see the rathayatra.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bartamanpatrika.com/index.php/news/fullstory/19295|script-title=bn:গুপ্তিপাড়ার রথে বিশেষ ট্রেন চালানো ও স্টেশন আলো দিয়ে সাজানোর আবেদন|work=Bartaman|language=Bengali|accessdate=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615101804/http://bartamanpatrika.com/index.php/news/fullstory/19295|archive-date=15 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Rathayatra of Mahesh|Mahesh Rathayatra]]
* [[Dhamrai Jagannath Roth|Dhamrai Rathayatra]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Culture of West Bengal}}

[[Category:Festivals in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Jagannath]]
[[Category:Hooghly district]]

Guptipara Rathayatra - Revision history

>Serols at 16:34, 16 February 2021