Chhera Pahanra: Know About The Ritual Where King Turns Sweeper

Bhubaneswar: Chhera Pahanra is a ritual performed by the king of Odisha every year during the festival of Ratha yatra. This is an Odia word where “Chhera” is Sprinkling of holy water and “Panhara” is sweeping thus Chhera Panhara is sweeping of while sprinkling holy water.

In this ritual, the king holds a broom with a golden handle in his hand and sweeps as other servitors throw flowers on the space of the chariot for the sweeping purpose by the king. Thereafter fragrant sandal water is sprinkled on the surface of the chariots to sanctify them.

The Chhera Pahanra ritual signifies that there is no distinction between the king and a sweeper. The King, as the foremost servitor, performs the ignoble job of a sweeper as a mark of utmost humility in the presence of the Lord of the Universe.

The ritual which started over centuries ago continues to impart the message that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and any other barrier before the almighty.

After the cleansing of the chariots by the Gajapati Maharaja and his departure to the palace, the wooden horses- painted in brown, black and white colour – are fixed to the three chariots and the chariot pulling begins.