Rath Yatra – A 200 year old tradition at the Maksudpur Garh

This historic Rath Yatra at Maksudpur is carried out with its own unique tradition. Lord Krishna’s Rath travels from the Nauratan Mandir of the Maksudpur Estate, and Lord Balram’s Rath travels from the village of Pachlakh situated near the banks of the Phalgu river. Their ‘milan’, or reunion takes place at Nau Mile, near the Gaya Engineering College, and the celebration and mela is widely attended by a large number of people from the area.

It is said that this unique Rath Yatra was started in the time of Raja Toral Narain Singh, the 2nd Raja of Maksudpur, sometime in the 1820s, making this a 200-year-old tradition.

A depiction of a Rath Yatra from the 1820s by Patna artist Jaya Ram Dass.
Behar after Charles D’Oyly (1781-1845), Behar Amateur Lithographic Scrapbook

On the auspicious day of the Rath Yatra, a messenger arrives from the Pachlak Mandir with a written invitation on behalf of Lord Balram inviting Lord Krishna from his abode at Nauratan Mandir, to meet at Nau Mile at an auspicious time. A written reply from Lord Krishna accepting the invitation is sent back to Lord Balram.

The decorated Rath at the Nauratan Mandir

In the afternoon, the Rath is decorated at the Nauratan Mandir and then the Sawari of Lord Krishna comes to the Bhagwati Sthan at the Garh. Here the Rath is received with much fanfare, and puja and seva is carried out by Raja Ajai Singh and Rani Nalini Singh. Then the devotees serve the Lord by pulling the Rath on the journey of 4 kms towards Nau Mile on the Gaya-Fatua Road.

Raja Ajai Singh and Rani Nalini Singh carry out Puja and Seva of Lord Krishna’s Rath at the Maksudpur Garh

All along the way devotees seek the blessings of Krishna Bhagwan, and several join the procession. At Nau Mile, the Rath of Balram ji arrives from Pachlakh, and the annual ‘milan’ of the siblings takes place as the two Raths come side by side, epitomizing the ultimate bond of love, strength and camaraderie.

Sometime in the 1980s the statues of Krishna Bhagwan had been stolen and the Rath Yatra had stopped taking place. However, since the 1990s it has been revived and has since been carried out according to its centuries old rituals and traditions, becoming ever more popular amongst the rural community every year.

Radha – Krishnaji virajman at the Nauratan Mandir

The attendance this year exceeded previous records, with an estimated forty thousand people being present during the ‘milan’ at Nau Mile.

Devotees throng the Rath as it makes its way towards Nau Mile

Sanad of Nawab Alivardi Khan – 1736

Sanad confirming Kehr Singh (nephew of Raja Sundar Singh) as Zamindar of Pargana Sanaut etc..

The Map of the old district of Behar, showing the parganas that came under the control of the zamindars of Sanaut – Tikari in the early 18th century. The Rajas of Sanaut – Tikari came to occupy the central part of the old Sircar (or district) of Behar including the town of Gaya.

The region to the east was the territory of Raja Kamgar Khan Mayi of Narhat – Samai with his headquarters at Hisua near Nawada. On the west was the territory of Raja Bishun Singh of Siris – Kutumba with his headquarters at Powai near Aurangabad. Across the river Son, further west, the region of Sasaram – Chainpur was the territory of Raja Pahalwan Singh of Nokha.

These zamindar rajas of south Bihar had formed their semi – autonomous chieftaincies in the early part of the 18th century, at the time of the weakening of the Mughal goverment after the death of Aurangzeb.

Map of the old Sircar of Behar with the Parganas entirely held by the zamindars of Sanaut – Tikari marked in red, and the parganas partly held marked in yellow.

The restoration the 19th cen marble idols of deities at the Nauratan Mandir, Maksudpur Raj Estate

Nauratan Mandir Deities Restoration – Project DiaryDownload
Nauratan Mandir at the Maksudpur Garh, Gaya
  • Shri Hanumanji before restoration
  • Artist Amit Kumar at work
The polychrome (multi-colour) restoration work carried out by artist Amit Kumar and team from Patna City, on the Makrana marble idols of deities, where the original polychrome had been completely lost by worship and ritual bathing over two centuries.