Jugar Yatra Kuchipali
Initiating the great campaign for last 25 years to bring communal harmony, untouchability, cultural awareness, unity and integrity in India and the world as a whole is the vision behind the celebration of the great festival ‘Jugar Jatra’. Annihilating the social dogma of butchery (BALI-Mass killing of animals) in the name of satisfying Goddess Kali, ‘KUCHIPALI’ a small interior village in the Bargarh District of Western Orissa started this famous festival ‘Jugar Jatra’ in 1985 celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year with its intrinsic custom and tradition amidst lakh of devotees from all over Orissa and nearby state Chhatisgarh. The present world is afflicted with social evils like butchery, communalism, superstitions and untouchability prioritizing god, religions, caste etc. To bring harmony and brotherhood assassinating the evils of the society is no mere game show but the most difficult call of the generation has been successfully practiced by the people of ‘Kuchipali’ creating history and showing a new ray of hope to blend the people of all communities and religions in an everlasting bond. Mr Rashid Khan, a young muslim is the head and the people of untouchable lower caste of the society ‘ Harizan’ are the active members of the puja committee reflects the distinctiveness of this festival.
Replacing the tradition of offering bloodshed animals to satisfy the goddess, 51 devotees of the region made a ‘Jugar’ of ‘fried paddy’ (Lia- in regional language) out of 21 x 21 kg=144kg dry rice and sugarcane molasses (Gur- in regional language) to offer the goddess for her benediction to get rid of all social evils to create a new age. ‘ Jugar instead of blood’, this step of the people of this region of Orissa is really appreciating and known to be a new chapter in world history.
The entire atmosphere and the surrounding vicinity in the afternoon of 19th October was exhilarated with the display of the long eliminated folk culture of the nation with the kind of duldulibaza, namoguru, ramtali, tamakudu, kalanginaach, karamsani, krushnaguru, ghantabadya, sankhadhwani etc. A record number of 351 jugars of fried paddy were offered to goddess kali and demonstrated in the ceremony. Lakh of devotees joined the festival to see the gigantic ‘silver jugar’ made up of 21x21 kg rice and sugarcane molasses.
Different cultural programmes were exhibited in the Sri Ramachandra Meher pendal.
The first issue of the annual souvenir ‘JUGAR’ was unveiled on the occasion of silver jubilee celebration by Sambalpuri Lokakabiratna Hon’ble Sri Haldhar Nag. Hon’ble Sri B.B.Behera, Senior Administrator was the Chief Guest and Sri. Susanta Singh, MLA, Bhatli Assembly Constituency, Former minister Sri Prakash Devta, Former MLA Sri Rafique Khan, Sri Manofhara Sahu were the Guest of Honour and Sri Dr. Laxmi Narayana Panigrahi aws the Chief Speaker on this occasion. Sri Samarendra Nath Panda, Principal, Vikash Junior College, Bargarh coordinated the entire programme.
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| Cultural Programme | Early days Jugar Procession | First Jugar |
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| Jugar Procession | Jugar of a muslim devotee | Jugar Procession |
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| Kalas Yatra | Godess Kali Picture in earthen pot at the end of puja | Karta in Kalas Yatra |
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| Preparatory Stage of Rupa Jugar | Puja Mandap | Rupa Jugar in Jugar Procession |
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| Souvenir JUGAR Unveiled |