Rains Fail to Dampen the Spirit of Heritage Enthusiasts During 12th Puri Heritage Walk

Puri: The monsoon showers did little to deter the passion of heritage lovers as the 12th edition of the Puri Heritage Walks (PHW) was successfully conducted on Sunday afternoon, drawing enthusiastic participation from across Odisha. Twenty-four heritage enthusiasts from cities like Rourkela, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, and Konark took part in the immersive walk through the historic lanes and sacred spaces of Srikshetra Puri.

Despite intermittent rains, the group embarked on the heritage trail with undiminished zeal. The first stop was the Mangu Mutt, situated near the iconic Shri Jagannath Temple, followed by an in-depth heritage discourse at the Radhaballav Matha. Renowned scholar Dr. Surendra Kumar Mishra led the session, highlighting the rich traditions, cultural relevance, and temple associations of the mutts (monastic institutions) that dot the holy city. He also elaborated on the specific ritual rights and responsibilities various mutts hold in temple services.

A unique highlight of this walk was the “Ratha” observation session, where Balakrishna Maharana, the Chief Maharana Sevak of Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, offered rare insights into the sacred craft of Ratha Nirmana (chariot construction). He explained the technical intricacies of wheel diameters, construction rules, the turning mechanics of the chariots, and the symbolic southern turn executed during the Rath Yatra.

Participants also visited Sanachhata Mutt and Uttaraparshwa Mutt, where Mathadheesha Shri Narayan Ramanuja Das discussed the mutts’ traditional roles and their contributions to the temple’s kitchen, including the use of five heritage stoves (Chuli) and two Sara Gharas, integral to temple food preparation.

The walk concluded with a darshan of Lord Shri Raghunath, the presiding deity of the mutt, leaving participants spiritually enriched and historically informed.

The event was led by Debi Prasanna Nanda, with heritage activist Sanjay Kumar Baral calling on the youth to engage actively in heritage preservation. A vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Kumar Aurojyoti, expressing gratitude to all participants and contributors.

Notable attendees included heritage coordinator Biswaranjan Dehury, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Bisweswar Dash, heritage promoter Ashoka Nayak, and prominent enthusiasts Priyankar Maharana, Siddharth Mahapatra, Subrat Bal, Jyotsna Mohapatra, Suprabha Sahu, and Satyaprakash Nayak, among others.