Rathayatra of Ukhra

Kinjal Bose

Rathayatra is celebrated in several districts of West Bengal with pomp and grandeur. In some families, the chariot is made of brass instead of wood. These brass-drawn chariots are famous and spread across different parts of West Bengal. One such brass chariot can be found in Ukhra situated in the Kanksa block of Paschim Barddhaman district of West Bengal.

Rathayatra marks the beginning of the festive season. It is on this auspicious day that the ‘kathamo puja’ of Maa Durga is performed in many traditional households. Rathayatra in Ukhra was started by the Late Sambhunath Lal Singh Hunday way back on 9th Aashar, 1248 Bangabda i.e., 1841 as per the Gregorian calendar. In the early years, the chariot was made of wood. But in the year 1850, the chariot was converted to brass measuring about 30 feet in height. It was built by Radhaballav Mehatari (Karmakar) of Birbhum.

Durga Puja of the Hunday family is equally popular. Sambhunath Singh Hunday started Jhulanyatra and Rashyatra along with Rathayatra in Ukhra. Possibly, the Durga Puja also began around the same time as these festivals.

The pancharatna Ramchandra Jiu Temple was founded by Meruchandra Hunday in 1739 A.D; while the Gopinath Jiu Temple was established in the year 1801 by Bakhtar Singh Hunday. The Hunday family has two brass chariots – one big about 30 feet in height and another comparatively small measuring 12 feet. Previously, both the brass chariots were used during Rathyatra, however, presently only the big one is in use. Both the brass chariots are kept in the ‘ratha griha’ throughout the year.

On the evening of Rathayatra, Gopinath Jiu and Radharani are brought out from the main temple in a palanquin and brought to the ‘ratha griha’. Before the idols are placed inside the chariot, they circle around it thrice, as per tradition. For the past fifteen years, the brass chariot has been drawn by a tractor but earlier, the family members used to draw the brass chariot with the help of a rope. The rath began to move through the crowded streets with people and devotees taking turn in pulling the rope. The chariot usually travels up to Vajpayee More before returning to the temple.  On both the days of the festival, a huge fair takes place on the Rathtala Road in Ukhra which attracts a lot of local visitors.