 |
| en.wikipedia.org |
Built by ruler Ani Nath Shahdeo in 1691, Jagannath Temple in Ranchi .is located on a small hilltop about 10 kilometer from Ranchi city.
The temple is dedicated to Jagannath, another aniconic form of Vishnu popular in eastern states of India such as Jharkhand and Odisha follows more less similar puja rituals and long held traditions as in the popular Jagannath temple, Puri. Architecturally too it is similar to the Puri temple of Odisha. Unfortunately, the old temple collapsed on 6th August 1990. Reason: primarily due to aging. Thanks to the efforts immediately made by the Bihar government, the temple was rebuilt after 1992 with the same charm and grandeur. Expenses were met by the Bihar government and through public donation from the devotees who were keen to have the temple rebuilt. Access to the hill temple is through the steps all the way from the bottom of the hill or by bus or car.
 |
| jagannath temple, Ranchi, Jharkhand state. |
As the road on the hill to the temple has lots of trees, devotees prefer walking uphill with intermittent rest and consider this undertaking a ritual to get blessed by the lord. Though arduous to climb the hill they do it driven by bakthi
The fascinating annual Rath Yatra of Puri, is also held at this temple in the month of Aashaadha (June) attracting thousands of tribal and non-tribal devotees from this region. The tradition has it the wooden idols of three deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and goddess Subhadra (sister of the former two) remain covered for some time in the temple because of frequent abhishekam (ceremonial bathing), it is believed, they suffer from fever. They will emerge on a specified day after a fortnight and next in June there will be rath yatra.
'Snan Yatra Mahotsava' performed at the Jagannath temple in Ranchi is an important ritual. Lord Jagannath will be in exile for the next 15 days after being bathed with ashwagandha, rose water, turmeric, kumkum, scented blossoms, etc. So are other deities - Balabhadra and Subhadra. Once they are free from the purported ailment there will be a rathyatra and it is held with pomp and fanfare. Devotees are allowed to worship the deities while in exile.
As for the rath yatra every year new raths are made using Sakhua wood. (300 cub ft of wood will go into making raths). The design of the Chariot is very much similar to the the Puri raths.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Temple,_Ranchi
