This article primarily focuses on two culturally significant events: the Thakurani Jatra Festival in Berhampur, Odisha and the beginning of the “Reiwa” era with the coronation of the new Japanese emperor. The former is a time-honored religious festival, while the latter signifies a major shift in Japanese monarchy.
The Thakurani Jatra Festival: An Odisha Tradition
The Thakurani Jatra Festival, a biennial celebration held in Berhampur, Odisha, recently commenced. At the heart of this festival is Goddess Budhi Thakurani who is moved from the Thakurani Temple Street’s main temple to a temporary residence at Desi Behera Street. Marking her stay until the end of the festival, this ritual has been practiced since the first Thakurani Yatra in April 1779.
Over the course of 32 days, the festival unfolds with lively commemorations. An intriguing aspect of this event is that the goddess is regarded as a family member of Desibehera, who leads the Dera community. This weaver clan’s contributions have earned Berhampur recognition as the silk city.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First Thakurani Yatra | April 1779 |
| Festival Duration | 32 days |
| Leading Community | Dera |
Reiwa: Beginning of a New Era in Japan
As relative on the global stage, Japan’s government announced that the upcoming rule of Crown Prince Naruhito would initiate the “Reiwa” era. This new era’s name was carefully selected from two characters, “Rei,” signifying “commands,” “order,” “auspicious” or “good,” and “Wa,” embodying “harmony” and even appearing in the Japanese word for “peace,” “hei-wa.” Notably, this is the first era name derived from a Japanese work of classical literature, specifically the 7th-century poetry collection, “Manyoshu.”
Upon Crown Prince Naruhito’s coronation on May 1, 2019, he became the 126th emperor of the Chrysanthemum Throne, marking his era. Remarkably, the Chrysanthemum Throne boasts of being the world’s oldest continuing monarchy. Under Japan’s current Constitution, the Emperor is the ceremonial Head of State and constitutional monarch, symbolizing “the state and the unity of its people.”
This significant change followed Emperor Akihito’s abdication on April 30, 2019, the first in 200 years, resulting in the conclusion of the “Heisei” era. The Heisei era – translating as “achieving peace” – was Japan’s first peaceful era in modern history. However, it was also marked by economic deflation and natural disasters. Commencing in 1989 with Akihito’s succession of his father Emperor Hirohito–known as the Showa Emperor–it ended when Akihito stepped down. This provided just one month for the government, businesses, and other sectors to adapt to the societal changes associated with this major transition.
