Puri: Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb being the Aadyasevak of Lord Jagannath swept the three chariots as part of the Chhera Pahanra ritual on the auspicious occasion of the Rath Yatra on Friday.
Chhera Pahanra is the ritualistic sweeping of the chariot platform by the King of Puri. Gajapati Maharaja, clad in spotless white attire comes from the palace in a richly decorated silver plated palanquin.
He gets atop the chariots one after another, offers garlands, performs arati, pays reverential salute, fans the deity by golden flywhisk, and sweeps the chariot platform around the deity.
The king holds a broom with golden handle in his hand and sweeps as other servitors throw flowers on the space of the chariot for the sweeping purpose by the king. Thereafter fragrant sandal water is sprinkled on the surface of the chariots to sanctify them.
The Chhera Pahanra ritual signifies that there is no distinction between the king and a sweeper. The King, as the foremost servitor, performs the ignoble job of a sweeper as a mark of utmost humility in the presence of the Lord of the Universe.
The ritual which started over centuries ago continues to impart the message that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and any other barrier before the almighty.
After cleansing of the chariots by the Gajapati Maharaja and his departure to the palace, the wooden horses- painted in brown, black and white colour – are fixed to the three chariots and the chariot pulling begins.
