Puri Rath Yatra: A huge economic driver for Odisha

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Puri is not only a religious and cultural spectacle but also a significant economic driver for the state, says Nageshwar Patnaik.

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HE is the Bada Thakura - the chief among Gods. His is Bada Deula, the chief temple among temples and the path in front of His temple is called Bada Danda, the chief path way. The sea washing the shore of His Khetra is called Mahodadhi, which means the great ocean. Everything related to Lord Jagannath and His temple is unique and extraordinary. His Temple in Puri, boasts of having the biggest kitchen in the country.

Not surprisingly, he continues to be the biggest landlord in the country with over 60,822 acres of land in Odisha and six other states, according to the official records. Of these, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has received the final Record of Rights (RoR) over 38,061.892 acres of land. Besides, the temple administration has already lodged 974 encroachment cases in different tehsils of the state to remove illegal encroachments. The cases were filed as per the provision of the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955, after the conduct of a proper inquiry by SJTA officials. Though the management decided to sell off the land, it took almost 10 years to identify temple land and sort out the records. The Temple now has pattas for 21,000 acres after a protracted legal battle.

The food offered to Lord Jagannath is known as Mahaprasad. Around 500 cooks and 300 helping hands prepare 56 different offerings known as 'Mahaprasad' for Lord Jagannath, which are served to the deity six times a day. Every devout Hindu preserves Nirmalya or dry Mahaprasad. The kitchen has 32 rooms, 752 stoves and nine earthen pots. Some 3000 families directly or indirectly depend on this Kitchen and the annual turnover from Mahaprasad business is pegged around Rs 30 crore.