ASHOKASTAMI RATHYATRA

The car festival of Lord Kapileswar at-Dia a village in the district of khordha,Orissa is renowned for the pulling of car occures at night .Moreover the car of Lord Kapileswar is pulled along the empty cornfield at the dead hours of night which is one and only one among the world.This is a five day's festival.The deities are enthroned at the chariot at the first day of the festival and the chariot is pulled by enormous people with a lot of love and enthusiam.The deities are taken in a big procession into the Radhakanta Temple[GUNDHIGHAR] on the next day i.e on the second day of the festival .As the deities are present at Dia, different cultural avtivities take place not only in Dia village but also in the hamlets[Kolasahi, Bhattasahi &Bhoisahi] .Onthe 3rd day which is popularly known as Heradasami the goddess Narayani visits gundichaghar in a procession but she returns to Her temple at the very moment She looks Lord Kapileswar in an angry mood on the ground that Lord didn't ask Her to come with Him .Whatsoever it may be She returns to the Gundchaghar at the late hours of the same night .On the last day of the festival the deties are taken in a procession in the village Dia and the ascends His chariot at the very late hours of the night and devotees pull it till Vetabali[A place where Goddess Narayani meets Lord Kapileswar].As soon as the car arrives at Vetabali,the place becomes crowded to enjoy cracker show.The crackers  made by local crftsmen are ignited till the rest hours of the night.After the show ends the car is again pulled until it reaches Kapileswar Temple.The deties are again ascend their throne and with this the festival ends.This is a big festval of the locality and remain as unseen due to proper publication and highlighting.If you are really interested to see it kind ly contact Amlan Praharaj at cell phone no.9937338528 or at my e-mail ID-praharajamlan123@gmail.com.Thank you for your patience reading this blog .