Persons We are Proud of: BHIKARI BAL

Bhajan Samrat Bhikari Bal

BHIKARI BAL (May 25, 1929 - November 2, 2010): Bhikari Bal was born in village Sobala, Kendrapara District Bhajan Samrat has enriched the Oriya culture to great extent with his contributions. Known for his melodious voice Bhikari Bal became a household name, not only in Orissa but also across the country. This renowned singer passed away in November 2, 2010, but his memories remain. His lucid and moving renditions of bhajans written by old generation poets such as Gopalkrushna, Dinakrushna, Baldev, Banamali and Salabega are still popular today. Bhikari Bal started singing from 1963, but his popularity grew with ‘Kotha bhoga khia…’ and other such devotional songs in the early ’70s. Surely there will never be another Bhajan Samrat like him. His bhajans on Jagannath and recitals on Gita Govinda made him a household name in Orissa. He had also sung Champu, Chhanda, Folk songs and Oriya film songs. He was awarded the title of Bhajan Samrat by the Puri Gajapati. Additionally, he was also awarded as Srichamu Surasevaka, Bhajan Maudamani, Bhakta Kantha upadhi, Odisha Sangita Natak Academy Award, Kabichandra Puraskar and was given special privileges inside the temple for his devotional tribute to Lord Jagannath.

RUKUNA RATHA - LORD LINGARAJ'S SOJOURN

RUKUNA RATHA

Rukuna Ratha is the annual chariot festival of Lord Lingaraj, as it grandly rolled down from the 11^th century Lingaraj Temple to the Mausima Temple. The uniqueness of Rukuna Ratha is it never ‘takes a turn’, unlike the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra in Puri. Special brakes are built to ensure the same. When it is time for this chariot to return after five day sojourn at the Mausima Temple, it is drawn by the devotees from behind. The Rukuna ratha is thus called ‘analeuta’ (the chariot that does not take a turn ).

RUKUNA RATHA OF LORD LINGARAJ

Legend has it that Lord Shiva was given this chariot by all the gods to kill a demon called “Tripurasura”. He was accompanied by Goddess Shakti, who was also known as Rukmini, by whose name this festival  has come to be known.

This festival  starts with resonating cheers from the devotees interspersed with the beats of the “mardal” and the sound of tapping feet of Ghantua Artist set the tone for the festival on the occasion of Ashokasthami.

Bronze idols of the three deities : Chandrasekhar 

( the incarnation of Lord Lingaraj ), Rukmini and Basudeva were brought to the chariot after the initial ritual, after which the four wheeled 35 feet wooden chariot thundered across the road in all its glory, pulled enthusiastically by thousands of devotees.