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All such artisans have linkage with the Jagannath Temple
and the products have tourist's attraction. Their
economic activities are more oriented and influenced by
the lifestyle of Sevayats. The carpenters (Badheis) of
Puri are engaged in the construction of the massive
chariots (Car Festival) every year. Similarly the
Tailors (Dargi) stitch the clothe of the chariots
(festive car) and flag (pataka) for the temple, the
jewelers (Bania) are associated with the preparation and
repair of ornaments of the temple Lords, the carriers (Bojhia)
of Mahaprasad all entertain a sense of pride being
associated with service (Seva) to Lord Jagannath temple.
The Brahmins play an important role in rendering
different religious service to the pilgrims like Sradhha,
Sankalpa, Jagya ect. The Brahmins of nearby Sasan
villages around puri use to sit on Mukti Mandap and
offer prescription (Byabastha) containing puri ficatory
advice (prayaschita Bidhi) for different social sins.
The gifts and donations of the pilgrims constitute their
livelihood. Dhoti, Chadar and napkin are their usual
dress with sacred mark on the forehead make them
distinct from other people.
Pleasure seeking is the basic principle of the life
style of Puri people. Collective activities with feast
and merrymaking is their usual way of spending leisure
and recreation. The local life style of Puri people
consist of Sanga (friends), Bhanga (taking Canavis
Indica), Sangeeta (music, Pangata (feast). This is
called Mauja (recreation) in singular term and the
tradition Puri people is somewhat philosophical in
substantiating the validity of mauja in following words-
"Marigale Pani Patrie Paibu mauja Paibu Kahun? (After
death, one is only entitled to get a spoon of water as
homage, but can he get recreational pleasure like
this?). The cultural centres of Puri grown through
unbroken tradition of the town are "Jaga" and "Akhada".
Such forums are meant for training the youth in physical
exercises, gymnastics, music and other social and ritual
services of the Temple during "Sahijata" commencing from
the birth of Lord Rama and his coronation after killing
demon Ravana. Each Sahi has traditional mode of
participation spread over seven cantos of great epic
"Ramayana". The lifestyle of the youth of traditional
families of Puri are shaped considerably by such youth
organisations. With the commencement of winter, the Sahi
youth go to Jaga for massage, wrestling and other
physical exercise. During such period they are refrained
from taking any intoxication and observe complete
celibacy (Brahmacharya). Thus Puri's traditional youth
maintain a muscular and well-built body. Jagas also
impart musical lesson particularly Odissi, Chhanda,
Champu etc. with Mrudangam. Usually collective feasts
are arranged in such Jagas, which is one of the major
attractions to participate in Jaga activities. The apex
bodies of such Jagas are Akhada, Kota etc. Apparently
such organisations have been set up as military
mechanism against invaders. The Puri people, mostly the
youth mass, participate and play a major role in
different festive events such as Ratha Jatra, Chandana
Jatra, Jhulana Jatra etc. On the occasion of one
noteworthy festival Chandan Jatra, during which the
festival deity Madan Mohan go with a procession with
their divine associates Panchu Pandava to Chandan Tank
for pleasant boating, Puri people in general and youth
of Jagas in particular participate with great enthusiasm
which is a distinctive lifestyle of Puri people. Jhulan
Jatra is another popular festival where Odissi Music and
"Gotipua" dance are notable items performed by local
people. Cultural involvement has been the most prominent
feature of Puri people since centuries despite of
several odd phases in the history. Some of the
traditional Puri people, though minimal in number,
narture a fond habit of domesticating or patronising
pets and playing with them. Such pets include birds like
para (Pigeons), Gobara (a small brown- coloured bird),
Parrot, animal like monkey, Neula (Mongoose) and even
bulls. Occasionally they organise various contests among
them. They look after the pets with much affection and
care.
The daily routine of a traditional common Puri
man begins with going to Jaga, taking full body massage
and bathing in pond, taking heavy breakfast and going to
respective profession to the temple or Lion's Gate for
motivating pilgrims for Darshan of the deities, then
going to home for food and fiesta and in the afternoon
go to Jagas to paste and take Canavis Indica (Bhanga),
go for open air toilet (Pokhari Pani) and bathing in
pond. Habitually they wear Dhoti and Punjabi and walk in
majestic style with swinging shoulder called "Mani
Bimana Chali". The dialects of Puri people is peculiar
with a commanding personal touch usually qualified by
some obscene words called "Do-akhari" by which they
don't mean anything but it is their style of speaking.
Sometimes people take exception to it. However, they
have the unique quality of establishing friendship with
unknown man within no time.
They are respectful to the elders and lovable to the
youngsters but become arrogant while dealing with other
professional rivals while with pilgrims. they always
prefer to remain with friends and show more interest in
collective feasts in different picnic places in and
around the town. Most of the traditional Puri people are
expert in cooking.
In general the lifestyle of the Puri people are
distinctive and unparallel and tension-free. They enjoy
even then adversities and usually do not get worried in
personal problems. They assign everything to Lord
Jagannath and believe that he will take care of
everything. The unworried attitude of the Puri people in
any problem, small or big, is sometimes construed as
traditional incorrigible lethargy. They are complacent
and lovers of leisure or entertainment. They sidetrack
the problems particularly relating to family and get
involved in collective merry-making.
Though with the onslaught of modern culture,
rapid urbanisation, commercialisation, consumerism,
socio-economic traumas and spread of hatred and narrow
feelings, the basic tenets of Puri culture are gradually
being shattered. But still considerably a sizeable
amount of it remains to which we may identify as the
true distinct feature of Puri and its people.
Sarat Chandra Mahapatra
Secretary in Jagannath Research Centre, Puri
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