Chakaa Aakhii Short Film by Saswat Joshi & Lasyakala Team
Lasyakala has always worked on promoting our great Odia culture across the globe. taking a step ahead, Lashyakala Team has come up with a new short film on Odissi, the classical dance form of Odisha. The short film titled Chakaa Aakhii is a tribute to Lord Jagannath, the God of the Universe, and his Big family.
Chakka Aakhii is produced by Lashyakala and is released officially by OdiaLive.com, the exclusive digital partner of the film. The film is directed by eminent Odissi Dancer and Choreographer Saswat Joshi. The photography is taken care of by Saswat Joshi & Shital Swaroopa. The film features Bibhu Dutta, Situbala, Swagatika. A, Swagatika.R, Abhinanda, Padmalaya. The music of Chakka Aakhii is composed of Madhava’s & Smrutiswar. Durjan has worked on the editing of the short film. Our special thanks to Niroj Studio, Titlagarh for their beautiful work on the subject.
The divine wheel runs in every Artists Life.
Chakra Aakhii Short Film Cast and Crew
a Lashyakala Presentations
an OdiaLive Exclusive Release.
Director: Saswat Joshi
Photography: Saswat Joshi & Shital Swaroopa
Casts: Bibhu Dutta, Situbala, Swagatika.A, Swagatika.R,
Abhinanda, Padmalaya
Music: Madhavas & Smrutiswar
Editor: Durjan
Special Thanks to: Niroj Studio, Titlagarh
About the Biggest Festival – Ratha Yatra:-
Every year at the beginning of Mansoon, Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, goes on vacation, travelling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his garden palace in the countryside. This belief of the Hindus has given rise to one of the biggest religious festivals in India — the Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival. This is also the etymological origin of the English word ‘Juggernaut’.
Historical Origin :
Many believe that the custom of placing idols on grand chariots and pulling them is of Buddhist origin. Fa Hien, the Chinese historian, who visited India in the 5th century AD, had written about the chariot of Buddha being pulled along public roads.
The Origin of ‘Juggernaut’
History has it that when the British first observed the Rath Yatra in the 18th century, they were so amazed that they sent home shocking descriptions which gave rise to the term ‘juggernaut’, meaning “destructive force”. This connotation may have originated from the occasional but accidental death of some devotees under the chariot wheels caused by the crowd and commotion.
How the Festival is Celebrated :
The festival begins with the Ratha Prathistha or invoking ceremony in the morning, but the Ratha Tana or chariot pulling is the most exciting part of the festival, which begins in the late afternoon when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra start rolling. Each of these carriages has different specifications: The chariot of Lord Jagannath is calledNandighosa, has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits high; the chariot of Balabhadra, called Taladhvajahas 16 wheels and is 22 cubits high; Devadalana, the chariot of Subhadra has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits high.
Each year these wooden chariots are constructed anew in accordance with religious specifications. The idols of these three deities are also made of wood and they are religiously replaced by new ones every after 12 years. After a nine-day sojourn of the deities at the country temple amidst festivities, the divine summer vacation gets over and the three return to the city temple of Lord Jagannath.
Also Read: Things to do inside Lord Jagannath Temple Puri
