Dhamrai Rath Yatra

Dhamrai Jagannath Roth ( ধামরাই জগন্নাথ রথ) is a chariot temple, Dhamrai Rath Yatra is dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath located in Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka District. The annual Jagannath Roth Jatra is a famous Hindu festival attracting thousands of people. Dhamrai Rath Yatra is one of the most important event for the Hindu community of Bangladesh. Sri Jagannath (Lord of the World) is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, one among the Holy Hindu Trinity of Gods (Brahma-The Creator, Vishnu-The Preserver, and Shiva-The Destroyer). Lord Jagannath is also believed to be the deity form of Lord Krishna.

For the thousands of Hindu devotees, it is considered a pious deed and the huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. A glimpse of Lord Jagannath on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and saints, poets and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival. The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages.

History:

According to the unpublished documents, Oral history and records it seems that the Dhamrai Roth is about 400 years old tradition living among the Local Hindus. By studying those records, it can be assumed that from 1179 to 1204 (Bangla Year) (corresponding to 1672 to 1697 AD), the Roth that was in existence, made with bamboos. It is, however, not known that how this Bamboo-made Roth was replaced by the one that of wood. The unpublished sources mentioned that, in between 1204 to 1340 (Bangla Year), the Zamindars (Feudal Land lords) of Baliati (now located in Saturia Upazila) had four ‘Roth’s made and they provided all the expenses for its construction.

The carpenters of Dhamrai, Kaliakoir, Saturia and Singair jointly worked to make a Roth which was 60 feet in height and 45 feet wide which was completed in 1340 BS, corresponding to 1933 AD. The newly constructed Roth was 3-storied. Each of the first and second floors had four chambers at the four corners and one chamber on the top floor. These chambers or rooms were called ‘Noborotno’s. The Roth had 32 giant wooden wheels and was adorned with two wooden horses in front as well as carvings and paintings of Hindu deities. Thick ropes made with about 1000 kilograms of jute fiber were used to pull the Roth along.

As it was being pulled people lining up the street and on roof-tops would shower bananas and sugar on the Roth amidst cheers and chanting. After the abolition of ‘jamindari’ system in 1950, Ray Bahadur Ranada Prosad Shaha of Mirzapur, Tangail extended extensive support and financial assistance for the upkeep, maintenance of the Roth, and for hosting of the event with pomp and grandeur. This support continued until 1970 under the auspices of Kumudini Welfare Trust which was formed by Mr. R. P. Saha.

Current Roth (Chariot):

In the year 2006 Mrs. Bina Sikri, the then Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh pledged to provide financial assistance in building a new Roth. Consequently, a 3-storied Roth was built in 2010. The new Roth is 27 feet long and of the same width; it has 15 wheels and is adorned with statues of different gods and goddesses. A Roth Committee of local people of Dhamrai with Mr. Rajib Saha, the son of Mr. R.P. Saha, as the chief Patron, have been organizing and holding this yearly gala event.

The journey of the Roth begins from the Madhabbari Temple to the Gope Nagar Temple, regarded to be the In-Laws house, a distance of about half a kilometer away. During the festival, devotees help pull the Roth with ropes and brought to the Gope Nagar temple. After one week the Chariot is pulled back to Madhab Mandir again which is termed as “Ulto Roth” (উলটো রথ) – Return Journey.

Type: Festival

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Brief

How to go

How To Reach: Dhamrai Upazila

Where to Stay

Things to do

Eating Facilities

Map

Similar Places

Madhnagar Rath Bari