They say even touching the rope of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra’s chariot brings you good luck! With just a handful of days remaining for the most awaited Ratha Yatra to kick off on July 16, we trace the significance of the sacred rope. This is hand pulled by thousands of devotees to transport the Raths or chariots from one temple to another. The Rath Dori, as it is called symbolises equality, surrender, devotion and the dotted relationship between the deities and their devotees.
The Rath Dori is also called the Ratha Rassi and is handcrafted by traditional artisans. Each rope is made of thick natural coir that can withstand the force of thousands of devotees tugging at it and pulling it at the same time. It is also crafted skilfully so that it can balance the weight of the actual Raths and the pull of the devotees at the same time. While the measurements may vary each year, it is approximately 60-75 metres long and 20-25 cms thick. The rope is tied to the three chariots- Nandighosha that carries Lord Jagannath while the Taladhwaja carries Balabhadra and Darpadalana carries Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple Puri to the Gundicha Temple. Moreover, only women are allowed to pull Subhadra’s chariot.
Rath Dori: The aftermath
Just like the chariots are handcrafted every year, the Rath Dori is also handmade each year. While the ultimate fate of the rope is decided by the temple administration, sometimes, small parts of it are distributed among wanted devotees. However, what happens to the rope remains solely at the discretion of the temple administration.
Why the Rath Dori is considered so sacred?
One of the philosophical pillars of Ratha Yatra is the fact that it brings the deities closer to the humans through the latter’s selfless devotion. Keeping this in mind, thousands of people pull the chariot ropes themselves instead of letting any animal do the same. This also brings people together irrespective of caste, class, creed, sex, and nationality, where the ultimate aim of every person is seva or selfless devotion and service to the Lord.
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