Rathayatra of Mahesh

Rathayatra of Serampore Mahesh
Founded	1396 A.D
Founded By	Kamalakar Pipilai
Place	(Grand Trunk Road)Mahesh, Serampore West Bengal, India, Hooghly dist
Height	50 feet
Wheels	12
Style	Nabaratna
Architect	Martin Burn Company
Patron	Krishnaram Basu

The Rathayatra of Serampore Mahesh is the second oldest chariot festival in India and World (after Rath Yatra at Puri) and oldest and biggest in Bengal, having been celebrated since 1396. It is a week-long festival and a grand fair is held at that time. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes (Rosshi) attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra on the journey from the temple to Serampore Mahesh Gundicha Bari and back.

Location

Mahesh is in Serampore (Hooghly district) of West Bengal. Under Serampore Police station and Serampore Municypality

Story behind the Festival

It was the fourteenth century. Drubananda Brahmachari, a great Bengali sage went to Puri for pilgrimage. He had a desire to offer Lord Jagannath ‘Bhoga’ with his own hand. But the Temple authority prevented him do so. Broken-hearted Drubananda decided to fast until death. On the third day, he heard the Lord’s voice in his dream, “Drubananda, go back to Bengal. At the bank of Bhagirathi, you will find a place called Mahesh. There I shall send you a huge Daru-Brahma (Neem trunk). Make Balarama, Subhadra and my Idol with this trunk. I am eager to have ‘Bhoga’ in your hand.” So Drubanada returned to Mahesh and started his Sadhana. Then in a scary rainy night, that Daru-Brahma appeared at Mahesh. He jumped into the water and received it. Then he made the Idols OF the Holy Trinity and established a Temple.

Sri Chaitanya at Serampore Mahesh

After taking sanyas, Sri Chaitanya left for Puri. In the way, he reached at Mahesh. After visiting Drubananda’s Temple, he lost his sense, and absorbed in deep Samādhi. Later old Drubananda requested Him to take the charge of this Temple. On his request He made Kamalakar Piplai, the fifth of Twelve Gopalas of Mahaprabhu, the Sebait of the Temple. After few days, Drubananda died.

Kamalakar Piplai

Kamalakar Piplai was, as it is mentioned earlier, fifth of the twelve Gopalas of Sri Chaitanya. He was the son of the Zamindar of Khalijuli in Sunderbans. He came to Navadwip to study Logic. Later he became a favorite of Mahaprabhu and joined his ministry. He was the first of the 64 Mohantas. After taking the charge of Mahesh Temple, he remained there and it is he who started the famous chariot festival, more than 600 years ago. His heirs still lives in Mahesh and some in Kolkata as the Sebait or ‘Adhikary’ of the Temple.

The Fair and the Festival

Not only this festival is the oldest but also the biggest Rathayatra in Bengal. Nearly 2-3 lakh people come to see the month-long fair. Lord goes to Serampur Gundicha Temple and remains there till Punarjatra, or Ultorath, as it is popularly known in Bengal.

Mahesh and ‘Radharani’

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s famous novel ‘Radharani’ consists of a wonderful description of Mahesh Rathayatra. Radharani, the little blind heroine of the novel got lost in the fair, and then found by her future lover. Bankim’s description does not only gives a vivid picture of the festival but also it gave the fair a romantic literary charm. It is said that even today one can feel the brokenhearted girl’s sorrow.

Famous people who came to Serampore Mahesh

Sri Ramakrishna, his wife Sarada Devi, Dramatist Girish Chandra Ghosh etc. many people came to visit the famous fair of the lord.

The Ever-Changing Chariot

But nor the Ratha neither the Temple of Kamalakar has existed. The modern Temple was made by Nayanchand Mallik of Pathuriaghata, Kolkata in 1755. It cost Rs. 20,000.

Nothing about the first Ratha is known. Once a devotee of Baidyabati donated a ratha to the Temple. In 1797, Sri Ramakrishna’s famous disciple Balarama Basu’s grandfather Krishnaram Basu donated another Ratha. His son Guruprasad Basu renewed the Ratha in 1835. But after some years the Ratha was burnt. Then Kalachand Basu made another in 1852. But one day a person committed suicide inside the Ratha. Taking this as a sign of evil, Biswambhar Basu made a different Ratha in 1857, but it also got burnt. Then Dewan Krishnachandra Basu ordered an Iron-Chariot from Martin Burn This Ratha is still in existent.

The Ratha

The 50 feet Ratha has 12 iron wheels. The Ratha is made in traditional Bengali Nabaratna style, e.g. it has nine churas.