Rathajatra (chariot procession), one of the major natural festivals of Hindus, is celebrated in the month of Ashara (June-July). Rathajatra of Jagannath Deva at Puri is the source of all Rathajatra festivals in the sub-continent and other parts of the world. I shall discuss the dynamic spirituality and beauty of Jagannath Deva Rathajatra at Puri in India. There are, clearly, two principal modes of approach towards the supreme reality. One through pure jnana (knowledge), and the other through the purest bhakti (devotion). The path of knowledge aims at trying to know the reality perfectly through identity with the supreme being, whereas devotion leads to dedicated service to the supreme reality.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can be regarded as the king in the realm of Bhaktas. He shines singly with his Achintya-Bhed-Abhed, diversity in unity and identity. Jagannath Deva is also a symbol of Bhakti, diversity in unity and identity. So, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can be regarded as the king in the realm of Bhaktas, and Bhakti movement of Jagannath Rathjatra. Jagannath Deva is considered an incarnation of Lord Krisna. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in his search for lord Krishna, almost ran towards Puri Dham from Shantipur. He started for Puri Dham to see the Bigraha (Idol) of lord Jagannath there so that, seeing him, he could quench his thirst arising out of Krishna-separation.

Only six of the closest Parishads (intimate companions) went with Mahaprabhu to Nilachal Shareekshetra. With his Gaudiya devotees, who arrived during lord Jagannath's Rathjatra, Mahaprabhu took part in all the festivities and sportive acts. He participated with them to clean up the Gundicha, witnessed the Netro Utsav, saw the Pandra Bijaya, performed Holy Bathing, danced and sang in the procession before moving chariots, and participated in the water sports in the Indradumna tank and in the Narenda sarovar.

I shall try here to sketch briefly only a few of such festivities. Only once a year, lord Jagannath travels to Gundicha temple, riding his chariot during the grand chariot festival, and stays there for seven days only, then again returns to his main temple at Puri. The devotees' eyes were thirsty to see beloved Jagannath again. When proceeding before the chariots, singing and dancing, all the devotees who came from many places were divided into several parties. All parties sang the melodious Namkirtana, praising lord Krishna and describing His various sportive performances (lilas), and danced in sheer ecstasy.

At Nilachal, the devotees moved about freely singing Sankirtana and dancing on the streets of Puri. Day and night, Puri and its immediate surroundings were full of their Nama Sankirtana. When they passed through any particular street, people living in that locality chanted "Hari Bole, Hari Bole." Their eyes were filled with tears of joy, their mouths were constantly chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, their movements were graceful, their wide chests were covered with beautiful garlands hanging and swinging from their necks. At the time of lord Jagannath's Rathajatra, when Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra were on the chariot, the many Sanyasis started sweeping the street over which lord's chariot would pass.

The congregational chanting of the holy names of Jagannath sweeps the dirt accumulated on the mirror of the heart, and extinguishes the great forest-fire of worldly suffering. It sheds moonlight upon the lily of eternal good, it is the very life of knowledge at every step. It is full of the taste of nectar, it sweetens the ocean of divine bliss and, thus, engulfs the entire self. Jagannath is a dynamic personality. He moves. He dances. He loves. He plays on his eternal flute. He grows. He flows forth due to exuberance of joy and fullness of perfection. He expands, yet he is always new --"Nithya Natun."

A liberated man attains nearness to him, and becomes an eternal partner of his sporting activities, which are called "Lila."

Oh! lord Jagannath! lord of the Universe. I have no desire for wealth, having followers, or for beautiful poetry. All that I desire is that birth after birth I should have causeless devotion for you.

Oh! Son of Nature! I am your eternal servant, but somehow I have fallen into an ocean of great suffering. Please be merciful and consider me as one of the specks of dust at your lotus feet.

Jagannath is infinite, unparalleled, completely whole. But the living being, or any other entity, is small, bounded and part of a whole. Jagannath is Full Bliss, Concentrated Bliss. A living entity is only a very small part of that Bliss.

Rathajatra festival of Jagannath is part of the Vaishnava tradition, or the cult of Bhakti, which received an impetus after the advent of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This tradition attached no importance to the caste system, and allowed people of all castes -- from Brahmins to Shudras -- to sit and eat together. It was a departure from the orthodox culture. In the Bhakti dispensation, on the other hand, all castes as well as all men and women were treated as equal. It was this tradition of the equality of all that was seen at its best in the festival of Jagannath.

The Hindu Community of Bangladesh will celebrate Rathajatra (Chariot festival) of Shree Shree Jagannath Dev in a befitting manner throughout the country. The main programmes will be held at Dhamrai, Dhaka, and Chittagong. These chariots will move with colorful processions. The Rathajatra will be followed by Ultorath festival, to be celebrated seven days after the chariot festival. Rathajatra is festival of peace and friendship. It has turned into a celebration of equality against all sorts of injustice and inequality. The organizers of Rathajatra will distribute bananas, khoi and batasha during the Rathajatra procession. Kirtans will be rendered during the pulling of the chariot. May the blessing shower of supreme "Reality" fall upon all. Rathajatra greetings to you all.

Prem Ranjan Dev is President, Bangladesh National Hindu Council.