Children lead the way in Old Town’s Badhei Banka | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: What began as a childhood initiative in the narrow lanes of Bada Danda Sahi in Badhei Banka area in Old Town has now blossomed into a major cultural and religious event. A group of children built a small chariot and pulled it through the bylanes of Badhei Banka 18 years ago, inspired by the Rath Yatra in Puri. The humble initiative has now transformed into the Badhei Banka Rath Yatra, featuring a 21-ft-high chariot and drawing a huge gathering from across the city.The annual festival, entirely led and organised by children and youth of the locality, showcases not just devotion but a strong sense of community spirit. From constructing the chariot to observing rituals and pulling it down the Rath Road, children take the centre stage in every aspect of the festival.“When we were in Class V, we made a small wooden chariot and went around the neighbourhood. After a couple of years, elders noticed our procession and helped us to improve by increasing the size of the chariot and following the rituals with sincerity and devotion. They helped us in bringing it from bylanes to the Bada Danda,” said 27-year-old Shakti Prasad Sahu, one of the founding members.Fellow organiser Sushil Praharaj said, “For the last several years, we never faced any major challenge. The entire community stands with us. From our elders to small kids, everyone participates, and that’s what makes our Rath Yatra special.”What makes the celebration unique is the year-long involvement of children. Starting from collecting funds to painting the chariots and performing rituals, children take an active role in all works. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are kept at the local Bhagabata Tungi, where they are worshipped daily by the children. They also observe important festivals of Lord Jagannath.The children strictly follow rituals and maintain dietary discipline during the nine-day Rath Yatra. “We all quit non-vegetarian food and maintain a sattvik lifestyle during the festival. We feel proud to carry on the tradition,” said Priyanshu Sahoo, aged 13. The Rath Yatra also celebrates Odisha’s rich folk traditions. Cultural programmes including banati, sankhua, mardala, ghanta, badi khela, traditional dances and other performances are held as part of the festivities.“Many say children are only interested in mobile phones and video games. But our Rath Yatra shows how spirituality and tradition are deeply rooted among the younger generation. In the process, the youngsters are grooming the next generation of devotees and cultural custodians,” said Jitendra Kumar Patra, a resident and parent.
