Rathayatra of Mahesh

The Rathajatra of Mahesh is the second oldest chariot festival in India (after Puri) and oldest in Bengal. It is a week-long festival and a grand fair is held at that time. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes (Roshi) attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra on the journey from the temple to Serampur Gundicha Bari and back.

Location

Mahesh is in Hoogly district of West Bengal. It is near Serampur town.

Story behind the Festival

It was the fourteenth century. Drubananda Brahmachari, a great Bengali sage went to Puri for pilgrimage. He had a desire to offer Lord Jagannath ‘Bhoga’ with his own hand. But the Temple authority prevented him do so. Broken-hearted Drubananda decided to fast until death. On the third day, he heard the Lord’s voice in his dream, “Drubananda, go back to Bengal. At the bank of Bhagirathi, you will find a place called Mahesh. There I shall send you a huge Daru-Brahma (Neem trunk). Make Balarama, Subhadra and my Idol with this trunk. I am eager to have ‘Bhoga’ in your hand.” So Drubanada returned to Mahesh and started his Sadhana. Then in a scary rainy night, that Daru-Brahma appeared at Mahesh. He jumped into the water and received it. Then he made the Idols OF the Holy Trinity and established a Temple.

Sri Chaitanya at Mahesh

After taking sanyas, Sri Chaitanya left for Puri. In the way, he reached at Mahesh. After visiting Drubananda’s Temple, he lost his sense, and absorbed in deep Samadhi. Later old Drubananda requested Him to take the charge of this Temple. On his request He made Kamalakar Piplai, the fifth of Twelve Gopalas of Mahaprabhu, the Sebait of the Temple. After few days, Drubananda died.

Kamalakar Piplai

Kamalakar Piplai was, as it is mentioned earlier, fifth of the twelve Gopalas of Sri Chaitanya. He was the son of the Zamindar of Khalijuli in Suderbans. He came to Navadwip to study Logic. Later he became a favorite of Mahaprabhu and joined his ministry. He was the first of the 64 Mohantas. After taking the charge of Mahesh Temple, he remained there and it is he who started the famous chariot festival, more than 600 years ago. His heirs still lives in Mahesh as the Sebait or ‘Adhikari’ of the Temple.

The Fair and the Festival

Not only this festival is the oldest but also the biggest Rathayatra in Bengal. Nearly 2-3 lakh people come to see the month-long fair. Lord goes to Serampur Gundicha Temple and remains there till Punarjatra, or Ultorath, as it is popularly known in Bengal.

Mahesh and ‘Radharani’

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s famous novel ‘Radharani’ consists a wonderful description of Mahesh Rathayatra. Radharani, the little blind heroine of the novel got lost in the fair, and then found by her future lover. Bankim’s description does not only gives a vivid picture of the festival but also it gave the fair a romantic literary charm. It is said that even today one can feel the brokenhearted girl’s sorrow.

Famous people who came to Mahesh

Sri Ramakrishna, his wife Sarada Devi, Dramatist Girish Chandra Ghosh etc. many people came to visit the famous fair of the lord.

The Ever-Changing Chariot

But nor the Ratha neither the Temple of Kamalakar has existed. The modern Temple was made by Nayanchand Mallik of Pathuriyaghata,Kolkata in 1755. It cost Rs. 20,000.

Nothing about the first Ratha is known. Once a devotee of Baidyabati donate a ratha to the Temple. In 1797, Sri Ramakrishna’s famous disciple Balarama Basu’s grandfather Krishnaram Basu donate another Ratha. His son Guruprasad Basu renewed the Ratha in 1935. But after some year the Ratha was burnt. Then Kalachand Basu made another in 1852. But one day a person committed suicide inside the Ratha. Taking this a sign of evil, Biswambhar Basu made a different Ratha in 1857, but it also burnt. Then Dewan Krishnachandra Basu ordered an Iron-Chariot from Martin Burn Co. This Ratha is still in existent.

The Ratha

The 45 feet Ratha has 10 iron wheels. The Ratha is made in traditional Bengali Nabaratna style, e.g. it has nine churas.

: Bartaman Patrika, 03.07.2006