Puri Rath Yatra: Dancers to return after two years Bhubaneswar News – Times of India

BHUBANESWAR: Gotipua dancer Basant Maharana (37) from Raghurajpur is eagerly awaiting the Rath Yatra in Puri on July 1, when he will dance during the “pahandi” or ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
In the last two years, he was not allowed to perform this traditional service due to restrictions imposed for the COVID-19 pandemic, although he used to go full fledged Puri when the occasion arose.
On Rath Yatra this year, he will leave for Puri in Gotipua attire and make-up at least 6 am to perform like his grandfather and father.
“I have been performing in front of the chariots for 25 years. But this year the excitement is high as I have not performed in 2020 and 2021,” said Maharana of Abhinav Sundar Gotipua Nritya Parishad, Raghurajpur.
This year the Shree Jagannath Temple administration has allowed 12 Gotipua and Odissi dancers to perform inside the police cordon. During Pahandi no dancer follows any theme, but moves to the sounds of “ghanta” (cymbals) and “mardala” which are played by sevayatas in the background.
Odissi dancer Kumar Bhimsen (33) said, “Rain and heat do not stop any dancer for 3 to 4 hours when they have to dance during Pahadi.”
The dancers begin the dance when the “Pahandi” starts from the “Ratna Singhasana” or the seat of the three deities inside the temple and proceeds with the procession as the deities leave the “Singhdwara” or the main entrance of the temple when They are “charmala” or wooden stairs temporarily attached to the chariots to climb.
Rosalini Mohanty (38), an Odissi dancer who has been performing in front of the deities since 2012, said, “Earlier, I had the opportunity to climb a chariot during Pahadi and perform in front of Lord Jagannath, but now climbing is not allowed.”
All the dancers consider themselves lucky to get a chance to serve during the Rath Yatra. “I demonstrated for 5 to 10 minutes outside the police cordon in 2020 and 2021 as the administration did not allow us inside due to COVID restrictions. This year, I can’t wait to perform,” said Guru Narayan Pandey (45), a disciple of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
Even the rise in Covid cases has failed to stop them. “It’s the biggest stage in the world. Here we dance not for the audience but for God. And even if I get infected, I won’t have any regrets because it happened when I was serving God, Rosalini said.