Tag: Jagannath Temple Puri

Budhhist Monastery

Puri is a land of remarkable culture and tradition. Along with the main temple Jagannath, there are number of other places in the city and also spread in its adjacent boundaries. Pipili,Konark, Chilika are some famous place, but today we are going to explore a hidden gem- Kuruma.

Kuruma, a small village in Puri, is located at a distance of 8 kilometers to the south-east of the sun temple of Konark. Kuruma is alternatively spelled as Kurum. The place is famous for the ancient Buddhist site. This site was built between 9th – 10th centuries A.D. It is situated on the left side of the Konarka–Kakatapur road and can be approached by a road branching from the Bali Dokan chowk and is about 2 kilometers from the chowk. The exact geographical location of this village is LONGITUDE 860 07’ 24” E and LATITUDE 190 53’ 62” N. Scholars are of opinion that this was one of the sites containing Buddhist stupas described by HiuenT’sang.

The site was first reported by Brajabandhu Das, a local school teacher and subsequently excavated by Odisha state Archaeology from 1971 to 1975. Prior to this excavacation, a stone slab containing the beautiful image of Lord Buddha was found on the bank of a tank at one end of the village. Here Buddha is seated cross legged with right hand in Bhumisparsa mudra while the left hand placed over his left knee. The image also wears a beautiful crown and a beautifully carved necklace. Besides this Buddha image, other two images were also found near the tank. One of these figures is identified as ‘Heruka’. Local people call this image as ‘Dharma’ (the Sun God) and another image is identified as ‘Yama’ (the God of Death). This Buddhist monastery is having twelve blocks, three in each cardinal direction and an open large courtyard at the center.

The monastery is abandoned now but the images retrieved from the site now worshiped within a small shed. Tourists may visit the room of teacher Sri Brajabandhu Das near to the UGME school, where some of the excavated specimens like script on stone, ancient coins etc. are kept under his supervision. From archaeological point of view Kuruma is not vary famous, but from tourism point of view it is an important place due to its close proximity to sun temple of Konark.

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Puri, the holiest city of India and abode of Lord Jagannath is also among the beautiful cities that have a dynamic coastline. Along with the presence of serene bay with golden hued sand and rolling surf, Jagannatha Puri’s ambience in enhanced by multiple festivals observed round the year. The festivities keep the spirits of the city high, with joyous processions carried out every now and then inside or outside the temple.

Today, we have brought you the list of some major festivals that are observed at Jagannatha Temple. If you are planning to pay a visit to Lord Jagannatha, you can surely plan your visit and enjoy these feasts and fests as well.

Jagannath Temple Puri

 Important Festivals At Shree Temple:

  1. Snana Yatra– It is observed in the month of Jyestha (Hindu calendar). On Purnima of this month, the lord is bathed and decorated every year.
  2. Ratha Yatra or Sri Gundicha Yatra– It is the most significant and popular festival, which is known worldwide. On this occasion, lord along with his siblings come out of temple sanctum and visit the city in his decorated Hence the name is Rath Yatra. It falls in Ashada month of Hindu Calendar, which are usually June-July months. The final destination for the Rath is Gundicha Temple, and the chariot makes way through the Bada Danda area. At this time Puri becomes the centre of attraction all over the world as lakhs and lakhs of devotees come to witness the Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra on their chariots.
  3. Sri Hari Sayan– It is a sleeping ceremony and is observed on the Asadha sukla edadashi (June–July)
  4. Nabakalebara- Naba Kalabera takes place when one lunar month of Ashadha is followed by another lunar month of Aashadha. This can take place in 8, 12 or even 18 years.  The meaning of Nabakalebara is the “New Body” (Nava = New, Kalevar = Body). New idols are installed during this festival and the old ones are buried in the temple premises at Koili Vaikuntha.
  5. Chandan Yatra or Akshay Tritiya– This marks the beginning of construction of chariots for Rath Yatra.

Apart from these popular and major festivals, Utthapan Yatra, Parswa Paribartan, Dakhinayan Yatra, Prarbana Yatra, Pusyavishek, Uttarayan, Dola Yatra, Damanak Chaturdasi are other festivals at Puri.

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