Ratha-Yatra - Service Offerings

Service Offerings

Jagannath temple employs different kinds of sevakas who offer their services on the Ratha.

• Suara:
• Mahasuara:
• Dahuka: Ratha dahuka/Dahuka recite Dahuka boli (Oriya: ଡାହୁକ ବୋଲି, also "Dahuka gita" (ଡାହୁକ ଗୀତ)) which are poetic recitations. Ratha Yatra being a symbolic expression of fertility and Life cycle, these "boli" sung by the Dahuka contain bawdy songs. It is believed that unless the Dahuka boli is sung 'Ratha' doesn't move. These songs are sung publicly without any kind of hold on the lyrics. Dahuka controls the movement of Ratha during the festival.
• Daita pati:
• Puspalaka:
• Banati Players: Banati is an age-old art, in which a person spins balls set on fire and tied to the ends of a rope. Every year during the Rath yatra devotees perform "Banati" to appease Lord Jagannath. Knives and fireballs, which are attached to the Banati add colour to the procession of the Lord as it reaches its destination