Most Cherished ‘Sahi Jata’ Brings Life To Puri
Meaning :
An ancient festival known as ‘Sahi Jata‘ brings the city of Puri to life with performances of Ramayana in various sahis, or byways. ‘Sahi Jata’ is perhaps the world’s oldest open-air festival. Different episodes of Ramayan are enacted with a wonderful combination of the spiritual and the folk during the festival . You may call it a kind of open-air roadside theatrical performance of martial art skills too . This event is a unique combination of our spiritual heritage and the present day performing art.
Puri is said to host 13 festivals each year, according to legend. In other words, you can say 13 festivals being celebrated in 12 months ( ବାର ମାସରେ ତେର ପର୍ବ). Festivities prevail round the year in Puri. Throughout the year, the town is almost always celebrating one or another festival.
Inception & Observation :
Sahi Jata, which dates back to the 12th century, begins one day before Ram Navami. That is the birthday of Prabhu Ramachandra which is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Navami Tithi i.e.the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra (March-April). It continues for some days during which Ramalila is performed. Different episodes of the Ramayana are dramatized at the Jagannath Ballabha Matha. Sahi Jata is performed for ten consecutive nights and finally culminates on Baishakh Dwitiya tithi. It begins with Rama Janma Niti ( Rituals of Birth of Ramachandra) and ends with Ramabhishek Niti ( Rituals of the coronation of Ramachandra).
Sahi Jata is nothing but the dramatised representation of several fragmentary aspects of the epic Ramayana. Some particular characters like Ravana, Parshuram, Nrusingha etc. are portrayed.
It involves two phases — a martial arts show and depiction of an episode of Ramayana. According to the ancient culture of Jagannath, the Choda Ganga kings initiated this custom of common people practicing martial arts to defend the Jagannath temple from intruders. Eight ancient Sahis of the city take part in the festivities that begin with the performance of the Yagnya episode ( ଯଜ୍ଞ ଉପାଖ୍ୟାନ) from the Ramayana in which King Dasaratha and his wives perform a religious ritual. Those eight Sahis are Kalikadevi Sahi , Harachandi Sahi, Matimandap Sahi, Markandeswar Sahi, Kundheibenta Sahi, Dolamandap Sahi, Bali Sahi, Goudabada Sahi. Each of them are associated with some particular Niti.
Dr Manoj Mishra , lunarsecstasy@gmail.com
