Communal harmony --a living tradition in Orissa

Communal harmony during Rath yatra.

While communal violence in Kandhamal tarnished the image of Orissa, and placed Orissa much low in Human Rights protection, here is totally opposite news, which shows Communal harmony and co-existence is a tradition of Orissa. This tradition is seen in Remanda village of Jharsuguda district. Since 1988, this valuable tradition started; during Rath Yatra (car festival) village Chief Warsh Mahammad is invited to do the welcome of Lord Jagannath by performing the prestigious ‘Chhera-pahara’ ritual. Hundreds of years back, Rath yatra was performed in Rampela village (near Remanda), but Rampela was submerged due Hirakud Dam project. Thus Remanda villagers could not visit Rath yatra; villages Chief Warsh Mahammad empathised with their woe and started Rath yatra here. He also bears all the expenses of the festival. Villagers happily invited him as their chief guest to do the ritual of Chhera-pahara. This tradition of Remanda makes the village an example of Communal harmony, tolerance and brotherhood.