View allAll Photos Tagged objectivity
The Soviet objective 'Helios 44' 2.0/58mm) is a known performer and can be easily be changed for some tens of euros at flea markets etc.
The reversing ring for commonly used camera mount isn't expensive and is easy to get.
This M42 version (2) of Helios 44 hasn't an A/M switch. So the diaphgram pin must be pushed (except in wide open shooting). A suitable adapter ring has a flange to push the pin in.
So this objective has two EOS mounts. Practical: you need only reverse the objective when choosing between landscape and close-up photography!
As I mentioned a bit ago, my photo objective last November 1 was Riverside Park in Dewitt. I figured there'd be some good trees to photograph.
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This photograph is an outtake from my 2021 photo-a-day project, 365^4.
Puri is a city and a Municipality of Odisha. It is the district headquarters of Puri district, Odisha, eastern India. It is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the 12th-century Jagannath Temple located in the city. It is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Indian Hindus.
Puri was known by several names from the ancient times to the present, and locally called as Badadeula. Puri and the Jagannath Temple were invaded 18 times by Hindu and Muslim rulers, starting from the 4th century to the start of the 19th century with the objective of looting the treasures of the temple. Odisha, including Puri and its temple, were under the British Raj from 1803 till India attained independence in August 1947. Even though princely states do not exist in independent India, the heirs of the Gajapati Dynasty of Khurda still perform the ritual duties of the temple. The temple town has many Hindu religious maths or monasteries.
The economy of Puri town is dependent on the religious importance of the Jagannath Temple to the extent of nearly 80%. The festivals which contribute to the economy are the 24 held every year in the temple complex, including 13 major festivals; Ratha Yatra and its related festivals are the most important which are attended by millions of people every year. Sand art and applique art are some of the important crafts of the city. Puri is one of the 12 heritage cities chosen by the Government of India for holistic development.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
GEOGRAPHY
Puri, located on the east coast of India on the Bay of Bengal, is in the center of the district of the same name. It is delimited by the Bay of Bengal on the south east, the Mauza Sipaurubilla on the west, Mauz Gopinathpur in the north and Mauza Balukhand in the east. It is within the 67 kilometres coastal stretch of sandy beaches that extends between Chilika Lake and the south of Puri city. However, the administrative jurisdiction of the Puri Municipality extends over an area of 16.3268 square kilometres spread over 30 wards, which includes a shore line of 5 kilometres.
Puri is in the coastal delta of the Mahanadi River on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. In the ancient days it was near to Sisupalgarh (Ashokan Tosali) when the land was drained by a tributary of the River Bhargavi, a branch of the Mahanadi River, which underwent a meandering course creating many arteries altering the estuary, and formed many sand hills. These sand hills could not be "cut through" by the streams. Because of the sand hills, the Bhargavi River flowing to the south of Puri, moved away towards the Chilika Lake. This shift also resulted in the creation of two lagoons known as Sar and Samang on the eastern and northern parts of Puri respectively. Sar lagoon has a length of 8.0 km in an east-west direction and has a width of 3.2 km in north-south direction. The river estuary has a shallow depth of 1.5 m only and the process of siltation is continuing. According to a 15th-century chronicle the stream that flowed at the base of the Blue Mountain or Neelachal was used as the foundation or high plinth of the present temple which was then known as Purushottama, the Supreme Being. A 16th century chronicle attributes filling up of the bed of the river which flowed through the present Grand Road, during the reign of King Narasimha II (1278–1308).
CLIMATE
According to the Köppen and Geiger the climate of Puri is classified Aw. The city has moderate and tropical climate. Humidity is fairly high throughout the year. The temperature during summer touches a maximum of 36 °C and during winter it is 17 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,337 millimetres and the average annual temperature is 26.9 °C.
HISTORY
NAMES IN HISTORY
Puri, the holy land of Lord Jaganath, also known popularly as Badadeula in local usage, has many ancient names in the Hindu scriptures such as the Rigveda, Matsya purana, Brahma Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Kapila samhita and Niladrimahodaya. In the Rigveda, in particular, it is mentioned as a place called Purushamandama-grama meaning the place where the Creator deity of the world – Supreme Divinity deified on altar or mandapa was venerated near the coast and prayers offered with vedic hymns. Over time the name got changed to Purushottama Puri and further shortened to Puri and the Purusha became Jagannatha. Close to this place sages like Bhrigu, Atri and Markandeya had their hermitage. Its name is mentioned, conforming to the deity worshipped, as Srikshetra, Purusottama Dhāma, Purusottama Kshetra, Purusottama Puri and Jagannath Puri. Puri is however, a common usage now. It is also known the geographical features of its siting as Shankhakshetra (layout of the town is in the form of a conch shell.), Neelāchala ("blue mountain" a terminology used to name very large sand lagoon over which the temple was built but this name is not in vogue), Neelāchalakshetra, Neelādri, The word 'Puri' in Sanskrit means "town", or 'city' and is cognate with polis in Greek.
Another ancient name is Charita as identified by Cunningham which was later spelled as Che-li-ta-lo by Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang.When the present temple was built by the Ganga king Chodangadev in the 11th and 12th centuries it was called Purushottamkshetra. However, the Moghuls, the Marathas and early British rulers called it Purushottama-chhatar or just Chhatar. In Akbar's Ain-i-Akbari and subsequent Muslim historical records it was known as Purushottama. In the Sanskrit drama authored by Murari Mishra in the 8th century it is referred as Purushottama only. It was only after twelfth century Puri came to be known by the shortened form of Jagannatha Puri, named after the deity or in a short form as Puri. In some records pertaining to the British rule, the word 'Jagannath' was used for Puri. It is the only shrine in India, where Radha, along with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Bhudevi, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti abodes with Krishna, also known as Jagannath.
ANCIENT PERIOD
According to the chronicle Madala Panji, in 318 the priests and servitors of the temple spirited away the idols to escape the wrath of the Rashtrakuta King Rakatavahu. The temple's ancient historical records also finds mention in the Brahma Purana and Skanda Purana as having been built by the king Indradyumna of Ujjayani.
According to W.J. Wilkinson, in Puri, Buddhism was once a well established practice but later Buddhists were persecuted and Brahmanism became the order of the religious practice in the town; the Buddha deity in now worshipped by the Hindus as Jagannatha. It is also said that some relics of Buddha were placed inside the idol of Jagannath which the Brahmins claimed were the bones of Krishna. Even during Ashoka’s reign in 240 BC Odisha was a Buddhist center and that a tribe known as Lohabahu (barbarians from outside Odisha) converted to Buddhism and built a temple with an idol of Buddha which is now worshipped as Jagannatha. It is also said that Lohabahu deposited some Buddha relics in the precincts of the temple.
Construction of the Jagannatha Temple started in 1136 and completed towards the later part of the 12th century. The King of the Ganga dynasty, Anangabhima dedicated his kingdom to the God, then known as the Purushottam-Jagannatha and resolved that from then on he and his descendants would rule under "divine order as Jagannatha's sons and vassals". Even though princely states do not exist in independent India, the heirs of the Gajapati dynasty of Khurda still perform the ritual duties of the temple; the king formally sweeps the road in front of the chariots before the start of the Rathayatra.
MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIODS
History of the temple is the history of the town of Puri, which was invaded 18 times during its history to plunder the treasures of the Jagannath Puri temple. The first invasion was in the 8th century by Rastrakuta king Govinda-III (AD 798–814) and the last was in 1881 by the followers of Alekh Religion who did not recognize Jagannath worship. In between, from the 1205 onward there were many invasions of the city and its temple by Muslims of the Afghans and Moghuls descent, known as Yavanas or foreigners; they had mounted attacks to ransack the wealth of the temple rather than for religious reasons. In most of these invasions the idols were taken to safe places by the priests and the servitors of the temple. Destruction of the temple was prevented by timely resistance or surrender by the kings of the region. However, the treasures of the temple were repeatedly looted. Puri is the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya, when he visited Puri in 810 and since then it has become an important dham (divine centre) for the Hindus; the others being those at Sringeri, Dwaraka and Jyotirmath. The matha is headed by Jagatguru Shankarachrya. The significance of the four dhams is that the Lord Vishnu takes his dinner at Puri, has his bath at Rameshwaram, spends the night at Dwarka and does penance at Badrinath.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Bengal who established the Bhakti movements of India in the sixteenth century, now known by the name the Hare Krishna movement, spent many years as a devotee of Jagannatha at Puri; he is said to have merged his "corporal self" with the deity. There is also a matha of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu here.
In the 17th century for the sailors sailing on the east coast of India, the landmark was the temple located in a plaza in the centre of the town which they called the "White Pagoda" while the Konark Sun Temple, 60 kilometres away to the east of Puri, was known as the "Black Pagoda".
The iconographic representation of the images in the Jagannath temple are believed to be the forms derived from the worship made by the tribal groups of Sabaras belonging to northern Odisha. These images are replaced at regular intervals as the wood deteriorates. This replacement is a special event carried out ritulistically by special group of carpenters.
The town has many Mathas (Monasteries of the various Hindu sects). Among the important mathas is the Emar Matha founded by the Tamil Vaishnav Saint Ramanujacharya in the 12th century AD. At present this matha is located in front of Simhadvara across the eastern corner of the Jagannath Temple is reported to have been built in the 16th century during the reign of Suryavamsi Gajapati. The matha was in the news recently for the large cache of 522 silver slabs unearthded from a closed room.
The British conquered Orissa in 1803 and recognizing the importance of the Jagannatha Temple in the life of the people of the state they initially placed an official to look after the temple's affairs and later declared it a district with the same name.
MODERN HISTORY
In 1906, Sri Yukteswar an exponent of Kriya Yoga, a resident of Puri, established an ashram in the sea-side town of Puri, naming it "Kararashram" as a spiritual training center. He died on 9 March 1936 and his body is buried in the garden of the ashram.
The city is the site of the former summer residence of British Raj built in 1913–14 during the era of governors, the Raj Bhavan.
For the people of Puri Lord Jagannath, visualized as Lord Krishna, is synonymous with their city. They believe that the Jagannatha looks after the welfare of the state. However, after the incident of the partial collapse of the Jagannatha Temple, the Amalaka part of the tower on 14 June 1990 people became apprehensive and thought it was not a good omen for the welfare of the State of Odisha. The replacement of the fallen stone by another of the same size and weight (seven tons) had to be done only in the an early morning hours after the gods had woken up after a good nights sleep which was done on 28 February 1991.
Puri has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of the Indian Government. It is one of 12 the heritage cities chosen with "focus on holistic development" to be implemented in 27 months by end of March 2017.
Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the shrines but are allowed to view the temple and the proceedings from the roof of the Raghunandan library within the precincts of the temple for a small donation.
DEMOGRAPHICS
As of 2001 India census, Puri city, an urban Agglomeration governed by Municipal Corporation in Orissa state, had a population of 157,610 which increased to 200,564 in 2011. Males, 104,086, females, 96,478, children under 6 years of age, 18,471. The sex ratio is 927 females to 1000 males. Puri has an average literacy rate of 88.03 percent (91.38 percent males and 84.43 percent females). Religion-wise data is not reported.
ECONOMY
The economy of Puri is dependent on tourism to the extent of about 80%. The temple is the focal point of the entire area of the town and provides major employment to the people of the town. Agricultural production of rice, ghee, vegetables and so forth of the region meets the huge requirements of the temple, with many settlements aroiund the town exclusively catering to the other religious paraphernalia of the temple. The temple administration employs 6,000 men to perform the rituals. The temple also provides economic sustenance to 20,000 people belonging to 36 orders and 97 classes. The kitchen of the temple which is said to be the largest in the world employs 400 cooks.
CITY MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE
Puri Municipality, Puri Konark Development Authority, Public Health Engineering Organisastion, Orissa Water Supply Sewerage Board are some of the principal organizations that are devolved with the responsibility of providing for all the urban needs of civic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, waste management, street lighting, and infrastructure of roads. The major activity which puts maximum presuure on these organizations is the annual event of the Ratha Yatra held for 10 days during July when more than a million people attend the grand event. This event involves to a very large extent the development activities such as infrastructure and amenities to the pilgrims, apart from security to the pilgrims.
The civic administration of Puri is the responsibility of the Puri Municipality which came into existence in 1864 in the name of Puri Improvement Trust which got converted into Puri Municipality in 1881. After India's independence in 1947, Orissa Municipal Act-1950 was promulgated entrusting the administration of the city to the Puri Municipality. This body is represented by elected representative with a Chairperson and councilors representing the 30 wards within the municipal limits.
LANDMARKS
JAGANNATH TEMPLE AT PURI
The Temple of Jagannath at Puri is one of the major Hindu temples built in the Kalinga style of architecture, in respect of its plan, front view and structural detailing. It is one of the Pancharatha (Five chariots) type consisting of two anurathas, two konakas and one ratha with well-developed pagas. Vimana or Deula is the sanctum sanctorum where the triad (three) deities are deified on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls), and over which is the temple tower, known as the rekha deula; the latter is built over a rectangular base of the pidha temples as its roof is made up of pidhas that are sequentially arranged horizontal platforms built in descending order forming a pyramidal shape. The mandapa in front of the sanctum sanctorum is known as Jagamohana where devotees assemble to offer worship. The temple tower with a spire rises to a height of 58 m in height and a flag is unfurled above it fixed over a wheel (chakra). Within the temple complex is the Nata Mandir, a large hall where Garuda stamba (pillar). Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to stand here and pray. In the interior of the Bhoga Mantap, adjoining the Nata mandir, there is profusion of decorations of sculptures and paintings which narrate the story of Lord Krishna. The temple is built on an elevated platform (of about 39,000 m2 area), 20 ft above the adjoining area. The temple rises to a height of 214 ft above the road level. The temple complex covers an area of 4,3 ha. There is double walled enclosure, rectangular in shape (rising to a height of 20 ft) surrounding the temple complex of which the outer wall is known as Meghanada Prachira, measuring 200 by 192 metres. The inner walled enclosure, known as Kurmabedha. measures 126m x 95m. There are four entry gates (in four cardinal directions to the temple located at the center of the walls in the four directions of the outer circle. These are: the eastern gate called Singhadwara (Lions Gate), the southern gate known as Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate), the western gate called the Vyaghra Dwara (Tigers Gate) or the Khanja Gate, and the northern gate called the Hathi Dwara or (elephant gate). The four gates symbolize the four fundamental principles of Dharma (right conduct), Jnana (knowledge), Vairagya (renunciation) and Aishwarya (prosperity). The gates are crowned with pyramid shapes structures. There is stone pillar in front of the Singhadwara called the Aruna Stambha {Solar Pillar}, 11 metres in height with 16 faces, made of chlorite stone, at the top of which is mounted an elegant statue of Arun (Sun) in a prayer mode. This pillar was shifted from the Konarak Sun temple. All the gates are decorated with guardian statues in the form of lion, horse mounted men, tigers and elephants in the name and order of the gates. A pillar made of fossilized wood is used for placing lamps as offering. The Lion Gate (Singhadwara) is the main gate to the temple, which guarded by two guardian deities Jaya and Vijaya. The main gates is ascended through 22 steps known as Baisi Pahaca which are revered as it is said to possess "spiritual animation". Children are made to roll down these steps from top to bottom to bring them spiritual happiness. After entering the temple on the left hand side there is huge kitchen where food is prepared in hygienic conditions in huge quantities that it is termed as "the biggest hotel of the world".
The legend says that King Indradyumma was directed by Lord Jagannath in a dream to build a temple for him and he built it as directed. However, according to historical records the temple was started some time during the 12th century by King Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It was however completed by his descendant, Anangabhima Deva, in the 12th century. The wooden images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were then deified here. The temple was under the control of the Hindu rulers up to 1558. Then, when Orissa was occupied by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal, it was brought under the control of the Afghan General Kalapahad. Following the defeat of the Afghan king by Raja Mansingh, the General of Mughal emperor Akbar, the temple became a part of the Mughal empire till 1751 AD. Subsequently it was under the control of the Marathas till 1803. Then, when British Raj took over Orissa, the Puri Raja was entrusted with its to management until 1947.
The triad of images in the temple are of Jagannatha, personifying Lord Krishna, Balabhadra, his older brother, and Subhadra his younger sister, which are made of wood (neem) in an unfinished form. The stumps of wood which form the images of the brothers have human arms and that of Subhadra does not have any arms. The heads are large and un-carved and are painted. The faces are made distinct with the large circular shaped eyes.
THE PANCHA TIRTHA OF PURI
Hindus consider it essential to bathe in the Pancha Tirtha or the five sacred bathing spots of Puri, India, to complete a pilgrimage to Puri. The five sacred water bodies are the Indradyumana Tank, the Rohini Kunda, the Markandeya Tank, Swetaganga Tank, and the The Sea also called the Mahodadhi is considered a sacred bathing spot in the Swargadwar area. These tanks have perennial sources of supply in the form of rain water and ground water.
GUNDICHA TEMPLE
Known as the Garden House of Jagannath, the Gundicha temple stands in the centre of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. It lies at a distance of about 3 kilometres to the north east of the Jagannath Temple. The two temples are located at the two ends of the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue) which is the pathway for the Rath Yatra. According to a legend, Gundicha was the wife of King Indradyumna who originally built the Jagannath temple.
The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture in the Deula style. The complex comprises four components: vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage. The temple is set within a garden, and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or garden house of Jagannath. The entire complex, including garden, is surrounded by a wall which measures 131 m × 98 m with height of 6.1 m.
Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when triad images are worshipped in Gundicha Temple, the rest of the year it remains unoccupied. Tourists can visit the temple after paying an entry fee. Foreigners (prohibited entry in the main temple) are allowed inside this temple during this period. The temple is under the Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri – the governing body of the main temple. A small band of servitors maintain the temple.
SWARGADWAR
Swargadwar is the name given to the cremation ground or burning ghat which is located on the shores of the sea were thousands of dead bodies of Hindus are brought from faraway places to cremate. It is a belief that the Chitanya Mahaparabhu disppaeread from this Swargadwar about 500 years back.
BEACH
The beach at Puri known as the "Ballighai beach} is 8 km away at the mouth of Nunai River from the town and is fringed by casurian trees. It has golden yellow sand and has pleasant sunshine. Sunrise and sunset are pleasant scenic attractions here. Waves break in at the beach which is long and wide.
DISTRICT MUSEUM
The Puri district museum is located on the station road where the exhibits are of different types of garments worn by Lord Jagannath, local sculptures, patachitra (traditional, cloth-based scroll painting) and ancient Palm-leaf manuscripts and local craft work.
RAGHUNANDANA LIBRARY
Raghunandana Library is located in the Emmra matha complex (opposite Simhadwara or Lion gate, the main entrance gate). The Jagannatha Aitihasika Gavesana Samiti (Jagannatha Historical Center) is also located here. The library contains ancient palm leaf manuscripts of Jagannatha, His cult and the history of the city. From the roof of the library one gets a picturesque view of the temple complex.
FESTIVALS OF PURI
Puri witnesses 24 festivals every year, of which 13 are major festivals. The most important of these is the Rath Yatra or the Car festival held in the month June–July which is attended by more than 1 million people.
RATH YATRA AT PURI
The Jagannath triad are usually worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri, but once during the month of Asadha (Rainy Season of Orissa, usually falling in month of June or July), they are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel 3 kilometrer to the Shri Gundicha Temple, in huge chariots (ratha), allowing the public to have darśana (Holy view). This festival is known as Rath Yatra, meaning the journey (yatra) of the chariots (ratha). The yatra starts, according to Hindu calendar Asadha Sukla Dwitiya )the second day of bright fortnight of Asadha (June–July) every year.
Historically, the ruling Ganga dynasty instituted the Rath Yatra at the completion of the great temple around 1150 AD. This festival was one of those Hindu festivals that was reported to the Western world very early. In his own account of 1321, Odoric reported how the people put the "idols" on chariots, and the King and Queen and all the people drew them from the "church" with song and music.
The Rathas are huge wheeled wooden structures, which are built anew every year and are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is about 14 m high and 35 feet square and takes about 2 months to construct. Th chariot is mounted with 16 wheels, each of 2.1 m diameter. The carvings in the front of the chariot has four wooden horses drawn by Maruti. On its other three faces the wooden carvings are Rama, Surya and Vishnu. The chariot is known as Nandi Ghosha. The roof of the chariot is covered with yellow and golden coloured cloth. The next chariot is that of Balabhadra which is 13 m in height fitted with 14 wheels. The chariot is carved with Satyaki as the charioteer. The carvings on this chariot also include images of Narasimha and Rudra as Jagannath's companions. The next chariot in the order is that of Subhadra, which is 13 m in height supported on 12 wheels, roof covered in black and red colour cloth and the chariot is known as Darpa-Dalaan. The charioteer carved is Arjuna. Other images carved on the chariot are that of Vana Durga, Tara Devi and Chandi Devi. The artists and painters of Puri decorate the cars and paint flower petals and other designs on the wheels, the wood-carved charioteer and horses, and the inverted lotuses on the wall behind the throne. The huge chariots of Jagannath pulled during Rath Yatra is the etymological origin of the English word Juggernaut. The Ratha-Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra and Ghosha yatra
CHHERA PAHARA
The Chhera Pahara is a significant ritual associated with the Ratha-Yatra. During the festival, the Gajapati King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (sweeping with water) ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the Gajapati King has been considered the most exalted person in the Kalingan kingdom, he still renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual signified that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the most humble devotee.
CHADAN YATRA
In Akshaya Tritiya every year the Chandan Yatra festival marks the commencement of the construction of the Chariots of the Rath Yatra. It also marks the celebration of the Hindu new year.
SNANA YATRA
On the Purnima day in the month of Jyestha (June) the triad images of the Jagannath temple are ceremonially bathed and decorated every year on the occasion of Snana Yatra. Water for the bath is taken in 108 pots from the Suna kuan (meaning: "golden well") located near the northern gate of the temple. Water is drawn from this well only once in a year for the sole purpose of this religious bath of the deities. After the bath the triad images are dressed in the fashion of the elephant god, Ganesha. Later during the night the original triad images are taken out in a procession back to the main temple but kept at a place known as Anasara pindi. After this the Jhulana Yatra is when proxy images of the deities are taken out in a grand procession for 21 days, cruised over boats in the Narmada tank.
ANAVASARA OR ANASARA
Anasara literally means vacation. Every year, the triad images without the Sudarshan after the holy Snana Yatra are taken to a secret altar named Anavasara Ghar Palso known as "Anasara pindi} where they remain for the next dark fortnight (Krishna paksha). Hence devotees are not allowed to view them. Instead of this devotees go to nearby place Brahmagiri to see their beloved lord in the form of four handed form Alarnath a form of Vishnu. Then people get the first glimpse of lord on the day before Rath Yatra, which is called Navayouvana. It is said that the gods suffer from fever after taking ritual detailed bath and they are treated by the special servants named, Daitapatis for 15 days. Daitapatis perform special niti (rite) known as Netrotchhaba (a rite of painting the eyes of the triad). During this period cooked food is not offered to the deities.
NAVA KALEVARA
One of the most grandiloquent events associated with the Lord Jagannath, Naba Kalabera takes place when one lunar month of Ashadha is followed by another lunar month of Aashadha, called Adhika Masa (extra month). This can take place in 8, 12 or even 18 years. Literally meaning the "New Body" (Nava = New, Kalevar = Body), the festival is witnessed by as millions of people and the budget for this event exceeds $500,000. The event involves installation of new images in the temple and burial of the old ones in the temple premises at Koili Vaikuntha. The idols that were worshipped in the temple, installed in the year 1996, were replaced by specially made new images made of neem wood during Nabakalebara 2015 ceremony held during July 2015. More than 3 million devotees were expected to visit the temple during the Nabakalebara 2015 held in July.
SUNA BESHA
Suna Bhesha also known as Raja or Rajadhiraja bhesha or Raja Bhesha, is an event when the triad images of the Jagannath Temple are adorned with gold jewelry. This event is observed 5 times during a year. It is commonly observed on Magha Purnima (January), Bahuda Ekadashi also known as Asadha Ekadashi (July), Dashahara (Vijyadashami) (October), Karthik Purnima (November), and Pousa Purnima (December). While one such Suna Bhesha event is observed on Bahuda Ekadashi during the Rath Yatra on the chariots placed at the lion's gate or the Singhdwar; the other four Bheshas' are observed inside the temple on the Ratna Singhasana (gem studded altar). On this occasion gold plates are decorated over the hands and feet of Jagannath and Balabhadra; Jagannath is also adorned with a Chakra (disc) made of gold on the right hand while a silver conch adorns the left hand. However, Balabhadra is decorated with a plough made of gold on the left hand while a golden mace adorns his right hand.
NILADRI BIJE
Celebrated on Asadha Trayodashi. It marks the end of the 12 days Ratha yatra. The large wooden images of the triad of gods are moved from the chariots and then carried to the sanctum sanctorum, swaying rhythmically, a ritual which is known as pahandi.
SAHI YATRA
Considered the world's biggest open-air theatre, the Sahi yatra is an 11 day long traditional cultural theatre festival or folk drama which begins on Ram Navami and ending in Rama avishke (Sanskrit:anointing) every year. The festival includes plays depicting various scenes from the Ramayan. The residents of various localities or Sahis are entrusted the task of performing the drama at the street corners.
TRANSPORT
Earlier when roads did not exist people walked or travelled by animal drawn vehicles or carriages along beaten tracks. Up to Calcutta travel was by riverine craft along the Ganges and then by foot or carriages to Puri. It was only during the Maratha rule that the popular Jagannath Sadak (Road) was built around 1790. The East India Company laid the rail track from Calcutta to Puri which became operational in 1898. Puri is now well connected by rail, road and air services. A broad gauge railway line of the South Eastern Railways connects with Puri and Khurda is an important Railway junction. By rail it is about 499 kilometres away from Calcutta and 468 kilometres from Vishakhapatnam. Road network includes NH 203 that links the town with Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha which is about 60 kilometres away. NH 203 B connects the town with Satapada via Brahmagiri. Marine drive which is part of NH 203 A connects Puri with Konark. The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, about 60 kilometres away from Puri. Puri railway station is among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
SAND ART
Sand art is a special art form that is created on the beaches of the sea coast of Puri. The art form is attributed to Balaram Das, a poet who lived in the 14th century. He started crafting the sand art forms of the triad deities of the Jagannath Temple at the Puri beach. Now sculptures in sand of various gods and famous people are created by amateur artists which are temporal in nature as they get washed away by waves. This is an art form which has gained international fame in recent years. One of the well known sand artist is Sudarshan Patnaik. He has established the Golden Sand Art Institute in 1995 at the beach to provide training to students interested in this art form.
APPLIQUE ART
Applique art work, which is a stitching based craft, unlike embroidery, which was pioneered by the Hatta Maharana of Pipili is widely used in Puri, both for decoration of the deities but also for sale. His family members are employed as darjis or tailors or sebaks by the Maharaja of Puri who prepare articles for decorating the deities in the temple for various festivals and religious ceremonies. These applique works are brightly coloured and patterned fabric in the form of canopies, umbrellas, drapery, carry bags, flags, coberings of dummy horses and cows, and other household textiles which are marketed in Puri. The cloth used are in dark colours of red, black, yellow, green, blue and turquoise blue.
CULTURE
Cultural activities, apart from religiuos festivals, held annually are: The Puri Beach Festival held between 5 and 9 November and the Shreeksherta Utsav held from 20 December to 2 January where cultural programmes include unique sand art, display of local and traditional handicrafts and food festival. In addition cultural programmes are held every Saturday for two hours on in second Saturday of the moth at the district Collector's Conference Hall near Sea Beach Polic Station. Apart from Odissi dance, Odiya music, folk dances, and cultural programmes are part of this event. Odishi dance is the cultural heritage of Puri. This dance form originated in Puri in the dances performed Devadasis (Maharis) attached to the Jagannath temple who performed dances in the Natamantapa of the temple to please the deities. Though the devadadsi practice has been discontinued, the dance form has become modern and classical and is widely popular, and many of the Odishi virtuoso artists and gurus (teachers) are from Puri.
EDUCATION
SOME OF THE EDUCATIONNAL INSTITUTIONS IN PURI
- Ghanashyama Hemalata Institute of Technology and Management
- Gangadhar Mohapatra Law College, established in 1981[84]
- Extension Unit of Regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy; Puri under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi established in March 2006
- Sri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, established in July 1981
- The Industrial Training Institute, a Premier Technical Institution to provide education in skilled, committed & talented technicians, established in 1966 of the Government of India
PURI PEOPLE
Gopabandhu Das
Acharya Harihar
Nilakantha Das
Kelucharan Mohapatra
Pankaj Charan Das
Manasi Pradhan
Raghunath Mohapatra
Sudarshan Patnaik
Biswanath Sahinayak
Rituraj Mohanty
WIKIPEDIA
*****WORSTEAD************************
With acknowledgment to the Roll of Honour Website: www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Worstead.html
(Referred to as RoH below)
Albert George BRAKENBURY………………………………...(RoH)
(George Albert on CWGC & CD). Private 240279. 1st/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in Palestine on 19th April 1917. Born Worstead. Enlisted East Dereham. Buried: Gaza War Cemetery, Israel. Ref. XXX. G. 8.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=649536
No match on Norlink
The 7 year old Albert, born Dilham, is recorded on the 1901 census at Spa Common, North Walsham. This is the household of his parents, Frank, (aged 32 and a Waterman\Wherryman from North Walsham) and Charlotte, (aged 33 and from Worstead).
19th April 1917 During the 2nd Battle of Gaza,
Facing the Tank Redoubt was the 161st Brigade of the 54th Division. To their right were the two Australian battalions (1st and 3rd) of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade who had dismounted about 4,000 yards from their objective. As the infantry went in to attack at 7.30am they were joined by a single tank called "The Nutty" which attracted a lot of shell fire. The tank followed a wayward path towards the redoubt on the summit of a knoll where it was fired on point blank by four field guns until it was stopped and set alight in the middle of the position.
The infantry and the 1st Camel Battalion, having suffered heavy casualties on their approach, now made a bayonet charge against the trenches. About 30 "Camels" and 20 of the British infantry (soldiers of the 5th (territorial Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment) reached the redoubt, then occupied by around 600 Turks who immediately broke and fled towards their second line of defences to the rear.
The British and Australians held on unsupported for about two hours by which time most had been wounded. With no reinforcements at hand and a Turkish counter-attack imminent, the survivors endeavoured to escape back to their own lines.
To the right (west) of Tank Redoubt, the 3rd Camel Battalion, advancing in the gap between two redoubts, actually made the furthest advance of the battle, crossing the Gaza-Beersheba Road and occupying a pair of low hills (dubbed "Jack" and "Jill"). As the advances on their flanks faltered, the "Camels" were forced to retreat to avoid being isolated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Gaza
More than a thousand one hundred of the men of the 54th posted killed wounded or missing were from the two Norfolk regiment battalions, equating to 75% of their strength. Eastern Daily Press "Sunday" section May 5, 2007
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Gaza
After Gallipoli the battalion was to take part in the campaigns in the Middle East against the Turks and by 28 Feb 1917 allied cavalry had entered Khan Yunis, a town midway between the Egyptian border and Deir el Belah. This caused the Turks to withdraw to Beersheba and Gaza and enabled the allies to push up a railway as far as Deir el Belah which could feed the allies with much needed supplies for the next push. Field hospitals were also set up here to tend wounded and sick soldiers and an airbase established.
On 19th April the Norfolks took part in a disastrous attempt to take Gaza. In this action casualties for the (1st/4th) battalion were 478 (55 killed, 323 wounded and 100 missing).
The battalion’s sister unit, 1/5th Norfolks, also took part in the assault and they fared even worse, suffering 643 casualties.
www.oldbuckenham-pri.norfolk.procms.co.uk/pages/viewpage....
Following the failure of the first two attacks by mounted forces to flank the city, it became obvious to the Turks and their German advisers that the next attack would be likely to be an infantry one, centred on taking Gaza itself.
Although inferior in numbers, the German aircraft available were technically superior to the Allied craft, and were able to carry our reconnaissance almost at will, and carry out harassing raids on the Allied build up.
To protect the city, the Turkish forces were set to digging, and more guns were brought up. Except to the north, the city was soon surrounded by a series of redoubts, intended to ensure that the Beersheba road remained open.
And so the race was on - to build up military superiority, (in terms of numbers the Allies utnumbered the Turks 2:1, but weren’t aware of it), would give the Turks time to make their defences almost impregnable. And in the eyes of the Allied Commanders in the field, Murray, Dobell and Robertson, the earlier assaults had come within a whisker of success. So in their eyes there was no time to extend the water pipeline, or build up supplies.
(Page 43)The plan also grew in size, as the Turkish construction out-paced the Allies ability to bring troops to the front. The initial plans, a two division attack, a mounted break-through along the shore-line, had to be abandoned. The generals settled on a three division attack, with the 54th (East Anglian) being allotted the eastern sector, furthest from the coast, most beset with supply troubles, and
tasked with taking the first part of the Beersheba Road line.
Further to their east was the Camel Corps and the rest of the cavalry, serving as a flank guard, but ready to sweep through any opening .
The first stage of the attack came on the 17th April. The three infantry divisions moved forward at dawn, and by 7.30 am were at their chosen positions, where they entrenched. The Turks did little to interfere, though one of the British tanks exposed itself unnecessarily and was put out of action by accurate Turkish artillery fire. Clearly one of the tasks which had been successfully accomplished by the Turkish side in the three weeks since the first battle had been accurate artillery registry of all the visible places in the area where necessarily an attack would come.
(Page 45)The second stage of the attack, after a days work on trenches and dug-outs, went as might be expected, considering it was made by soldiers walking over open ground towards well entrenched and protected men armed with rifles and machine guns. An artillery bombardment of an hour or so, including the gas shells, and including fire from the ships at sea off Gaza, seems to have woken up the Turks rather than intimidated them - there was still insufficient British artillery to provide a really serious bombardment. The Turks did not actually notice the gas shells: higher air temperature seems to have encouraged rapid evaporation.
The 54th Division set-off behind this bombardment to attack the entrenchments of the Turkish 53rd Division along the Beersheba Road.
(Page 49) From Brigade HQ, Lieutenant Buxton was sent forward to find out what was happening.
(Page 50) (He subsequently reported on the attack on the redoubt) “held it for some time until the ammunition was spent. No support came and so those that did not get away, sixty in all, were captured in the Turkish counter-attack. My second tank, under Captain Carr, had done well in getting into the redoubt. The first tank had had a direct hit and was burning. It was obvious that our attack here had failed and most of our men had been killed. So I waited a bit longer, and when things were a shade quieter, I got out of my shell hole and ran back over the rise. There I came upon about 40 men of our brigade of all regiments, Major Marsh who was O C 8th Hants was there and Lieutenant Wharton of the 4th Norfolks. These men where just stragglers and all collected there. We decided it was no good going on then, so we started to dig ourselves in. This was all quite early in the morning - about 9. Marsh had a telephone line so I phoned back to Brigade HQ and gave them all the news.
(Page 51). There were a lot of dead men and wounded all round us. Some of the latter we got behind our lines, in case the Turks tried a counter -attack, We were about forty men and one Lewis Gun, and no-one on our left or right for several hundred yards. The place we were holding was the top of a rounded hillock. The Turks kept us under pretty good machine gun fire all day. Marsh and I lay in a rifle pit and ate dates and biscuits for a bit. We allowed no firing, as we wished to keep our ammunition in case of a counter attack.
About 4 in the afternoon the 5th Suffolks were sent up to support us and consolidate the position we held. This was really a great relief. About seven the Brigadier came out after dusk and saw the place. He ordered us to retire during the night right back to our starting point, for it would not have been possible to hold this advanced position as long as there was no-one on our flanks at all”
The strongpoint from now on was called Tank Redoubt.
This was an attack on a single strongpoint and a strectch of trenches little over a mile long, by four battalions. It had made no progress after being expelled from the strongpoint, and had only reached so far because of the bravery of the tank crew, (three men). The last reserve of the 163rd Brigade, the 5th Suffolks, which was at last sent forward, as Buxton noted with relief, late in the afternoon. With no more troops available, the brigadier had no option but to pull all the survivors back.
Extracts from “The Battle for Palestine 1917” by John D. Grainger
books.google.co.uk/books?id=3SVvryoR2A0C&pg=PA50&...
Ernest Alfred BRAKENBURY………………………………..........(RoH)
Private 28976. 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 13th January 1917. Aged 35. Born North Walsham. Lived Worstead. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Alfred and Annie Brakenbury, of Briggate, Worstead, Norwich. Buried: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. VIII. C. 178.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=48820
No match on Norlink
The 20 year old Ernest, born Briggate, Worstead, is recorded as a boarder at Briggate House, Briggate, Worstead, He is employed as a Cowman on Farm. On the 1891 census the 9 year old Ernest is recorded at “Bridgegate” Worstead, His birthplace this time is shown as North Walsham. This is the household of his parents, Alfred, (aged 34 and a Miller from Worstead), and Annie, (aged 32 and from Crostwright). Their other children are:-
Violet………………….aged 11.…………born North Walsham
Arthur…………………aged 7.…………..born North Walsham
Willie…………………aged 6.…………..born North Walsham
Edwin…………………aged 3.…………..born North Walsham
www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=2544761
Looking at the 8th Battalion diary, they hadn’t suffered any casualties since the 19th December - however Boulogne was one of the main hospital area’s where front-line casualties would have been fed back to, so possibly connected.
18 Dec 1916 front line trenches near Givenchy-les-la-Bassee Relieved 1/The Buffs in left subsector GIVENCHY. Enemy trench mortars active from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm. Damage done to our trenches and saps considerable but no casualties. Night quiet. Enemy heard busy pumping and transport heard at 12.25 am and again at 2.30 a.m.
19 Dec 1916 In trenches as above. Enemy non-aggressive except for short trench mortar bombardment & rifle grenades. Casualties 1 OR killed, 2 OR wounded.
Herbert CARY……………………………….............................(RoH)
Private 41030. 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. Formerly 20908 Norfolk Regiment. Died at home on 3rd January 1917. Aged 34. Born Reymerstone, Norfolk. Lived Lyngate, Norfolk. Son of Louis and Rebecca Cary; husband of Florence Louisa Cary, of "Lyngate, Worstead. Buried: Worstead (St. Mary) Churchyard. North of West end of church.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803440
No match on Norlink
The Genes Reunited transcript of the 1911 Census for England and Wales has a Herbert Cary, born circa 1882 Reymerstone Norfolk and now recorded in the Smallburgh, Norfolk district.. However, this individual does not appear to be on the 1901 census.
Herbert was baptized in the church of St Peter, Reymerston on the 7th May 1882 – no birth date is given. His father is listed as Louis, whose occupation is given as farmer, and his mother is Rebecca.
The same parents had a son, Louis baptized on the 7th September 1884, as well as Charles, (baptized 1st February 1887), Bernard, (baptized 19th October 1890)and Percy, (baptized 14th April 1895)
The 2nd Essex had been in France since August 1914, although by this stage there would have been very few, if any, of the pre-war professional soldiers still in its ranks.
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/5405512339/
Herbert John COOPER………………………………...................(RoH)
Private 17050. "A Company, 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment . Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 28th July 1916. Aged 23. Born Briggate. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Sarah and the late John Cooper, of Briggate, Worstead, Norfolk. Buried: La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, Somme, France. Ref. I. E. 17.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=66672
No match on Norlink
Herbert is just listed as John Cooper on the 1901 census. He is aged 7, born Worstead, and living at Briggate, Worstead. This is the household of his parents, , although its his mother Sarah, (aged 38 and from Worstead) who is listed as the head of the household. Her other children are:-
Anna……………aged 10.……………born Worstead
Cyril…………..aged 3 months……….born Worstead
George………….aged 12.…………..born Worstead…Ordinary Agricultural Labourer
Gladys………….aged 3.……………born Worstead
Robert………….aged 15.…………..born Worstead….Ordinary Agricultural Labourer
There is a Herbert John, born circa 1894 Worstead on the Genes Reunited transcription of the 1911 census, who is still recorded in the Smallburgh District which covers the village.
Sarah and the older children don’t appear to be on the 1891 census at all.
The 8th Battalion had been involved both on the first day of the Somme, (1st July), but also in an action at Delville Wood, 19th to 23rd July. In both actions the unit suffered a large number of casualties - the Battalion War diary records that the action at Delville Wood on the 19th / 20th alone cost the Battalion:-
3 Officers killed and 8 wounded
76 O.R’s killed, 2 Died of Wounds, 174 wounded, 36 missing.
Armine DAVISON M.M………………………………..................(RoH)
Corporal 12345. 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Killed in action in France & Flanders on 15th June 1918. Born and lived Worstead. Enlisted Nottingham. Awarded the Military Medal. (MM not mentioned on CD). Buried: Granezza British Cemetery, Italy. Ref. Plot 1. Row B. Grave 4.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=638768
No match on Norlink
The 7 year old Armine, born Worstead, is recorded on the 1901 census at Church Plain, Worstead. This is the household of his parents, Austin, (aged 32 and a General Storekeeper from Westwick), and Florence, (aged 27 from Worstead), The household is made up by May Watts, who is probably Florence’s sister. Her relationship to Austin as the head of the household is described as Sister in Law. May is 17, from Worstead and single, and works as a School Teacher.
One of the most memorable literary traditions of the Great War involves the post-war pilgrimage of V.A.D. Nurse and author Vera Brittain to the grave of her brother Edward on the Asiago Plateau, described in Testament of Youth.
He had been killed in the very battle the Francis Mackay so clearly describes in the excellent new addition to the Battleground Europe series, Asiago.
This excerpt includes selections on both the assault which led to Edward's death and information on his subsequent internment. This took place around what is know alternatively as the Battle of Asiago or Operation Radeztky, part of an even larger action known as the Battle of the Piave. We pick up Francis Mackay's description the evening of the battle.
The night of 14/15 June 1918 on the Asiago plateau was damp, with a thick mist forming in hollows and valleys. At 3 am precisely Allied observers in mountain-top OPs saw hundreds of signal flares burst into life above the enemy trenches. This was immediately followed by twinkling pin-points of light on the slopes behind as masses of light and medium guns, many dragged forward from the northern valleys during the night, opened fire. Behind the northern ridges sudden flashes revealed the presence of heavier artillery pieces: Operation Radetzky had begun.
The [preliminary] Austrian barrage fell mainly on the Allied front line, but signals centres, ammunition dumps and road junctions received attention. The Granezza and Carriola bases were hit, and some shells even whistled over the escarpment to upset staff in the foothill supply dumps. The bombardment lasted for over four hours, and was followed by a massive infantry attack, launched from assembly areas just forward of the Austrian wire. The initial objectives, in the French and British sectors, were Granezza and Carriola, and the edge of the escarpment
The 23rd Division (Major-General Sir James Babington), cover[ed] a front of about 5,500 metres, had 68 and 70 Brigades in the front line and 69 Brigade in reserve. The situation facing the division was complicated. It was holding the line in preparation for the Allied offensive. . . Yet at the same time the division had to prepare for a heavy enemy bombardment, if not an attack. In view of this, and in accordance with current defense doctrine, the front line was only lightly manned. Unfortunately all battalions were seriously under-strength, so the front line was very lightly manned indeed. Apart from the ravages of 'flu', many officers, NCOs and men were absent on leave or attending courses. . .
During the battle the division [would be] attacked by elements of three k.u.k. divisions…The front line was manned by five British battalions. It was briefly breached in two places, but the k.u.k. attackers were quickly evicted and suffered horrendous losses. . . The right front battalion [Edward Brittain's unit], holding the San Sisto Ridge, was 11/Sherwood Foresters, 'The Men from the Greenwood', (Lieutenant-Colonel CE Hudson, DSO MC), with a frontage of about 1,000 metres.
. . . The Battalion [had] occupied the San Sisto feature on 11 June, after a period in reserve. It was under-strength: only 19 out of 34 officers were in the line, while the two forward companies, A and D, each had less than a hundred all ranks to man around 900 metres of trench, and provide a platoon for night picquet and outpost duty. D Company was commanded by Captain EA Frith and A Company by Captain EH Brittain MC. . .
[The infantry assault began at 6:45 am on June 15th and several breeches were made in the British line.] A Company had suffered severe casualties from artillery fire and was trying to hold nearly eight hundred metres of the line with (probably) only fifty rifles; an impossible task even when they were reinforced by the picquet platoon. Brittain, by now apparently the only unwounded officer in the company, appeared on the scene, returning from consulting with the French. Rapidly organizing a counter-attack group, which included some French soldiers, he led an attack which forced the enemy back. Some jumped out of the trench and ran back towards others coming through the wire. These enemy troops went to ground and opened fire on the Foresters, as did machine-gunners and riflemen on both sides of the wire. Brittain re-organized the defense of the trench, forming a flank with what troops were available. He apparently paused to observe the enemy, and was killed, possibly sniped by an Austrian officer. . . On the Allied right the Italian line [had been] breached, and the enemy penetrated about two kilometres towards the escarpment. They were held, but it took five days of bitter fighting to restore the line. In the centre the French beat off a mass attack with only minor casualties. The British were also attacked and the front line breached in several places, but after some hard fighting it was restored. Radetzky failed, and, after some bitter fighting, so did Albrecht. Conrad and Boroevic lost their last battles and the k.u.k. lost its will to win.
[Among the British dead was] Captain Edward Harold Brittain [who] was the adored elder brother of Vera Brittain. When war broke out the Brittain family had been living in Buxton and Edward sought a commission in the county regiment. He joined the 1 1/Sherwood Foresters in France, was wounded on the first day of the Somme, and awarded the MC. In 1914 Vera had been an undergraduate at Oxford but became a VAD Nurse after her fiancé, Roland Leighton, was mortally wounded with the 1/7 Worcesters at Hébuterne in December 1915. After the war she wrote Testament of Youth, married and was the mother of former Labour Cabinet Minister Baroness Shirley Williams.
www.worldwar1.com/itafront/vbp.htm
Frederick DELF………………………………............................(RoH)
Serjeant 23/88. 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 9th June 1918. Aged 23. Born North Walden, Northamptonshire. Enlisted Newcastle. Son of Daniel and Sophia Delf, of Worstead, Norwich. Buried: Pernes British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. II. F. 48.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=118763
No match on Norlink
Neither Frederick, Daniel or Sophia appear to be on either the 1901 or 1911 censuses.
Pernes-en-Artois is a small town on the main road from Lillers to St. Pol. The British Cemetery is nearly one kilometre west of the town on the road to Sains-les-Pernes.
The cemetery was not begun until April 1918 when the 1st and 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Pernes, driven back by the German advance. In May, the 6th and 22nd Clearing Stations arrived and in August, they were joined by the 13th. Almost all the burials were made by these units, but a few of the graves were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice (Graves 2 to 13 in Plot VI, Row C, were brought from the small British Cemeteries of Anvin and Wavrans).
www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=11600&...
George Thurston GRIMES………………………………..................(RoH)
Private 28877. 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 25th October 1917. Aged 32. Born and lived Worstead. Enlisted Norwich. Son of William and Anna Grimes, of Fern Cottage, Worstead, Norwich. Buried: Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. X. D. 9.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=620816
No match on Norlink
The 16 year old George, born Worstead and already employed as a Cabinet Makers Apprentice, is recorded on the 1901 census living at Horning Row, Worstead, along with his brother Victor, (see below). This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 50 and a Teamster on Farm from Worstead), and Anna, (aged 47 and from Ingham). Their other son, Victor, aged 13 and born Worstead, is employed as a Domestic Gardener.
www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1978974
From the battalion War Diary.
24-10-17 9 a.m. The Battalion embussed for Canal Bank, from whence it marched to Cane Trench. Dinners were served at Cane Trench and rations, water etc. served out to the men for a 48 hours tour in the trenches. In the evening the Battalion relieved the Royal Fusiliers in the line. The relief was completed in the early morning.
In the line 25-10-17 The Battalion held the line successfully. There was a great deal of shelling and incidentally our own guns fired very short.
www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/7thbn/7thbtn1917diary.html
(From the same source it should be noted the Battalion suffered a Gas attack on the 19th. However, it would be unlikely that Private Grimes would still have been so relatively close to the frontline 6 days later).
Victor Thurston GRIMES……………………………….................(RoH)
Private 18/754. 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 28th June 1917. Aged 30. Born and lived Worstead. Enlisted West Hartlepool. Son of William and Anna Grimes, of Fern Cottage, Worstead, Norwich. Commemorated: Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 106 and 107.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1764318
No match on Norlink
See brother George above for family details.
27th/28th June 1917:Very gallant raid by 2nd D.L.I. (2 officers and 84 other ranks under Capt. Fawcett) and 11th Essex (3 officers and 67 other ranks under Capt. Silver) in connection with operations of 46th Division -- though anticipated the raiders got into the enemy's trenches and remained there one hour, repelling all counter-attacks -- one prisoner taken.
www.gutenberg.org/files/20115/20115-h/20115-h.htm
Frederick Cecil LEACH……………………………….....................(RoH)
Private 5482. 16th (The Queen's) Lancers. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 12th September 1914. Born Smallburgh, Norfolk. Lived and enlisted North Walsham. Buried: Buzancy Military Cemetery Aisne, France. Ref. III. A. 2.
(NB - the only individual on the CWGC database matching the details above is an F Leach) www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=274890
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour confirms this is a Frederick C Leach.
The 14 year old Frederick, born Smallburgh, is recorded at the Kings Head Inn, Worstead, on the 1901 Census. This is the household of his father, Henry, (aged 49 and a Farmer & Innkeeper from Hardley), and what is probably his step-mother, Sarah, (aged 28 and born Ashill). The other Leach children are:-
Basil Charles……………aged 1.………born Worstead
Ethel Joyce………………aged u/1.…….born Worstead
Henry Cyril……………..aged 2.………born Worstead
On the 1891 census, father Henry, then aged 40, is listed as the Licensced Victualler at the Kings Head Inn, Worstead. His wife is Emma,, (aged 48 and from Hapton). As well as “Fred” aged 4, there is a Sidney, (aged 3, born Smallburgh) and a Lucy, (aged 1 and born Worstead).
While I can’t find the baptism records for Frederick, Lucy was baptised at St Mary in 1890. Her parents are listed as Henry and Emma.. From the1901 census, Basil Charles (1899), Ethel Joyce (1900) and Henry Cyril (1898) were all baptised at St Mary.
Private Leach may be amongst this column of the 16th Lancers, photographed in France September 1914.
www.qrlassociation.co.uk/m_history_16.htm
The 11th had seen the British and French reach the banks of the River Aisne, who then set about preparing for an assault across the river and the over-loonking heights on the 13th.
www.1914-1918.net/french_third_despatch.html
John Henry ROPER………………………………..........................(RoH)
Private 17056. 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 1st July 1916. Aged 22. Born Briggate, Norfolk. Enlisted Norwich. Son of E. S. and Mary J. Roper, of Briggate, Worstead, Norfolk. Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=809972
No match on Norlink
The 7 year old John H. born Worstead, is recorded on the 1901 census at Briggate, Worstead. This is the household of his parents, Edwin S, (aged 33 and a Flour Miller from Worstead), and Mary J, (aged 29 and from Southrepps). Their other children are:-
Dorothy M………………..aged 4.…………..born Worstead
Edwin T…………………..aged 8.………….born Worstead
The 6th Battalion, Royal Berks went over the top alongside the 8th Norfolks on the first day of the Somme. The story of what happened to the two units can be read here,
www.6throyalberks.co.uk/1stJuly/default.html
From the Battalion War Diary.
1st July - Assembly Trenches.
The Battalion took part on an assault of the German trenches north of CARNOY and S.W of MONTAUBAN.
The 7th Battalion of the Quuens Royal West Surrey Regiment of the 55th Brigade was on our Right, and the 6th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, of our own brigade, were on our left.
In the early hours of the morning, the battalion was in position in the four assembly trenches, i.e in their battle position ready for attack.
The early hours of the morning were passed in comparative quietitude.
5.30am. Teas were brought up from CARNOY and served out in the Assembly trenches.
7.20am Our artillery commenced the intense bombardment and the enemys retaliation on our Fourth line assembly trench became more apparent.
7.27am. A mine and two Russian Saps were exploded on our front.
7.27 am. The first wave of our “C” and “ D” Companies deployed from our firing line and laid out in the open about 30 yards in front.This movement was accomplished without loss.
7.30 am. The assault commenced. The remainder of our two assaulting companies left our trenches and moved forward in four successive waves.
MINE TRENCH was reached and crossed by these two Companies with practically no opposition and without loss on our side. All Germans remaining alive in this trench after our artillery barrage had passed were thoroughly cowed and at once surrended. “C” Company on our right took about 30 prisoners from the West Edge of the mine craters.
MINE SUPPORT was taken about 7.40 am. The wire entanglements in front having been completely demolished by our artillery.
Up to the point, the Battalion suffered very few causlaties.
BUND SUPPORT was reached and taken at 8 a.m, where a halt was made.
The two assaulting companies on leaving BUND SUPPORT came under heavy enfilade machine gun fire from the direction of BRESLAU SUPPORT and BACK TRENCH and suffered heavily. Captain B.P Ayre being killed and Captain J H Hall being seriously wounded. By this time the following officers had been wounded. Capt & Adjt H.P Berney-Ficklin, 2nd Lieuts. J G Hampson, C.T Blackborn, L.Padfield, S.A Wharton, G R Ironmonger and E. Maclean, (at duty). There now remained no officer with the left leading company and two subalterns in the right leading company, which were now reduced to 90 and 100 men respectively.
The Left Leading Company under C.S.M A F Raven reached our first objective - POMMIERS TRENCH - and took it at about 10.30 am. A portion of the Right Leading Company also got into POMMIERS TRENCH near the East Side of THE LOOP at the same time, but the remainder of this company was held up by machine gun fire and a strong point at the junction of BOCHE TRENCH and BACK TRENCH with MINE ALLEY.
After this company had been reinforced by a platoon from the support company under 2nd Lieut G E Miall-Smith and the Battalions Bombers under Sergeant H E West had also been sent up to this point, this strongpoint fell and the garrison of about 150 Germans and 2 Officers of a Bavarian Regiment surrendered, and right leading company was then able to push forward into the East portion of POMMIERS TRENCH which up to then had not been taken. At this point in the attack, “A” company which had been in reserve and had advanced from the assembly trenches in artillery formation at 7.45am, and had been consolidating MINE TENCH, now advanced to BUND SUPPORT and commenced the consolidation of this trench. At the same “B”, the support company, advanced with three platoons, (1 already having been sent to reinforce “C”), to POMMIERS TRENCH
3pm. “B“ Company had now taken THE LOOP and both assaulting companies advanced to the MONTAUBAN ALLEY line, - the final objective of the Battalion.
Owing to machine gun firing from the line and from N.W of MONTAUBAN, “D“ company on the left suffered heavy casualties, and “C“ company, led by 2nd Lieut J H Attenborough made repeated attempts to get into MONTAUBAN ALLEY but did not succeed until a bombing party under 2nd Lieut. L.A Gundry-White gained an entrance by way of LOOP TRENCH on the left. Unfortunately, just before this had been affected, 2nd Lieutenant J H Attenborough with CSM J Coe had both been killed in the attempt to get into this trench.
5.45pm. The MONTAUBAN ALLEY line was taken and the battalion was in touch with the 7th Queens on our right and the 6th Royal Berks on our left.
6pm. The whole of “B” Company having been used to support “C” and “D” companies who were now reduced to, respectively, 70 and 80 other ranks and 1 Officer, the work of consolidating MONTAUBAN ALLEY was commenced at once and patrols were sent forward to reconnoitre along CATERPILLAR TRENCH and EAST TRENCH.
The Reserve Company who in the meanwhile had advanced and consolidated POMMIERS TRENCH and THE LOOP, were now brought up and sent forward to take up the advanced post known as the GREEN LINE.
The Green Line was taken up and strong points commenced at about 8pm and patrols were sent forward in the direction of CATERPILLAR WOOD.
8pm. From now onwards the enemy commenced a heavy and continuous bombardment with 5.9 and a few 77mm shells on the west end of MONTAUBAN ALLEY held by the Battalion, generally in the vicinity of the junction of LOOP TRENCH with MONTAUBAN ALLEY, a few shells falling in THE LOOP itself but practically none in the rear.
Our casualties for the days fighting were:-
Officers.Killed……………..2
Died of Wounds….1
Wounded…………8 including 2 at duty. These being 2nd Lieut S N Cozens-Hardy, (who was wounded just outside Battalion Headquarters which were at the S.W. end of THE LOOP where they had moved up to as soon as the MONTAUBAN ALLEY line had been reached) and 2nd Lieut. E. Maclean.
Other Ranks.
Killed………………………….102
Wounded………………………219
Missing………………………..13
Total Casualties. Officers…11 Other Ranks………….334
Charles George RUMP………………………………........................(RoH)
Lance Corporal 40618. 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. Formerly 20067 Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 14th June 1918. aged 20. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Mr. C. Rump, of Meeting Hill, Worstead, Norwich. Buried: Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. O. 34.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=33902
No match on Norlink
The 2 year old Charles G, born Worstead, is recorded on the 1901 census at White Horse Common, North Walsham. This is the household of his parents, Charles E. (aged 28 and a Team on Farm from Worstead) and Jane E, (aged 23 and from Worstead). The Rumps also have a daughter, Lily J. aged 1.
The baptism of Charles George took place at St Mary on the 20th July 1898, his birth date being given as 9th May 1898. His parents are listed as Charles Edward and Jane Elizabeth. The family’s place of abode is shown as Worstead.
Cambrin is a village about 24 kilometres north of Arras and 8 kilometres east of Bethune on the road to La Bassee. The Cemetery is on the north side of the road and is approached by a path from the main road.
At one time, the village of Cambrin housed brigade headquarters but until the end of the First World War, it was only about 800 metres from the front line trenches. The village contains two cemeteries used for Commonwealth burials; the churchyard extension, taken over from French troops in May 1915, and the Military Cemetery "behind the Mayor's House." Cambrin Military Cemetery, often called Cambrin Chateau Cemetery, was begun in February 1915 and used as a front line cemetery until December 1918.
www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=3400&a...
In the Battalion War diary, the 14th and 15th June are bracketed together with the note “Quiet - 6 casualties”
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=123596
Henry SCOTT……………………………….......................................(RoH)
Sapper 84958. 207th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Died of wounds in France & Flanders on 5th August 1916. Born North Walsham. Lived Worstead. Enlisted Norwich. Commemorated: Bottom Wood Cemetery, Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, Somme, Memorial 10.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=548310
No match on Norlink
There initially appears to be no obvious match on the 1901 census. Looking at the high-level search on the 1911 census, there is a Henry born circa 1876 North Walsham, who at the time of the census was recorded in the Aylsham District.
207th (Norfolk) Field Company joined the 34th Division in February 1915. Made up of many Pals Units from the North East, the Division was decimated by the first day of the Somme.
Thomas SELF………………………………...................................(RoH)
Corporal 1424. 1st/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Died on 12th August 1915 (CD gives 28th August) in Gallipoli. Aged 29. Born Worstead. Enlisted Westwick, Norfolk. Son of Tom and Harriett Self, of East Ruston, Norfolk; husband of Harriet Self, of 7, Bacton Rd., North Walsham, Norfolk. Commemorated: Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 42 to 44.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=685201
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match on either the 1901 or 1911 census given the details above. The 1911 census has a Thomas Edward, born Tunstead circa 1899 and now recorded in the Smallburgh District.Going back to look at the same individual on the 1901 census, the then 2 year old Thomas E. (born Tunstead) is recorded at 2 Tunstead Road, Sco Ruston. This is the household of his parents, Thomas, (aged 43 and a Cattleman on Farm from Acle) and Harriet (aged 35 and from Ashmanhaugh). Their other children are:-
Dorothy V………..aged 4.…………….born Tunstead
Elsie M…………..aged 6.…………….born Tunstead
Emma……………aged 7.…………….born Tunstead
Lilian…………….aged less than one month….born Tunstead
The Self’s also have a16 year old Harriet Bloomfield living with them, whose status and occupation are given as nurse - presumably to help with the new-born child.
The baptism of Thomas Edward took place at St Mary, Tunstead on the 22nd October 1899. His date of birth was given as 2nd March 1899. His parents are Thomas and harriet Mary Ann, and the family abode is given as Tunstead. His fathers occupation is given as Labourer.
The Norfolks left Liverpool aboard the SS Aquitainia on 29 July and arrived at Suvla Bay in Gallipoli on 10 August 1915. Just two days later the 1/5th battalion were ordered to clear Turkish positions on the Anafarta Plain prior to the Allied advance. Their sister battalion, the 1/4th waited in reserve and were not involved in the events that followed. The outcome was typical of the poor planning which characterized the whole campaign. The attack was to be made in broad daylight without adequate maps against the well-prepared Turks, who were firmly dug in along a ridge of hills overlooking the bay. The enemy were armed with machine guns and supported by dozens of snipers, many of them teenage girls, camouflaged and hidden in trees. The Norfolk battalion was made up of 16 officers and 250 men and was led by a veteran of the campaign in the Sudan, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Horace Proctor-Beauchamp. As they left their positions, the 1/5th battalion were joined by hundreds of other British soldiers from battalions of the Suffolk and Hampshire regiments.
The attack quickly turned into a massacre. For some reason during the advance the Norfolks turned slightly to the right, opening up a gap between them and the other British troops from whom they had become separated. As the exhausted Norfolks fixed bayonets and prepared to charge the Turkish positions on the Kavak Tepe ridge they were picked off by snipers and mown down by machine gun fire. Lt-Col Beauchamp was last seen leading his doomed men into a burning forest from which they never emerged. As night fell the few survivors, wounded and exhausted, began to filter back to the British positions at Suvla Bay. The 1st/4th Battalion War Diary held at the National Archives records the following under the date 12 August 1915:
"163rd Brigade made a frontal attack on strong Turkish position. 5th Norfolks on right met a strong opposition and suffered heavily. Lost 22 officers and about 350 men. Held our lines during the night in spite of heavy enemy fire."
The actual fate of the battalion was discovered in 1919 at the end of the war when the Commonwealth War Graves Commission began searching the battlefields at Gallipoli for the remains of soldiers. There an investigator discovered a cap badge belonging to a soldier of the Norfolk regiment hidden in sand 800 yards behind the Turkish lines at Suvla Bay. This led the commanding officer to write home triumphantly: "We have found the 5th Norfolks." When this news reached the War Office they sent a chaplain who had served during the campaign back to Gallipoli to investigate. The Rev Charles Pierrepoint Edwards examined the area where the cap badge had been uncovered and found a mass grave containing 180 bodies, from which the remains of 122 were identified as members of the "Vanished Battalion." The remains included those of their commanding officer, Lt-Col Beuchamp, who was identified by the distinctive shoulder flashes on his uniform. Of the 266 officers and men reported as missing, 144 remained unaccounted for, but a number of these had been captured and some had subsequently died in the notorious Turkish prison camps. A few had survived captivity to describe what had really happened, but their stories did not emerge until half a century later.
In his book The Vanished Battalion (1991) McCrery revealed new evidence that explained why the full facts discovered by the clergyman who visited the mass grave were not revealed in 1919. He found there was evidence of an official cover-up but this was not to hide evidence of an extraterrestrial kidnapping. In this case it was to conceal evidence of both a military blunder and a war crime. For it emerged that of the bodies discovered that many had been shot through the head as the Turkish soldiers did not like to take prisoners of war. His evidence was backed up by the story of a British survivor of the massacre, who testified before his death in 1969 that he had seen Turkish soldiers bayoneting wounded and helpless prisoners and shooting others in the wood where the battalion disappeared. The survivor escaped only because of the intervention of a German officer who saved his life and he spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp.
It appears that the Rev Charles Pierrepoint Edwards concealed this disturbing evidence in his report to the War Office so as to spare the feelings of the families and the King, who continued to believe their loved ones died gallantly in battle with the enemy.
www.drdavidclarke.co.uk/vanbat.htm
George SIDELL………………………………................................(RoH)
Private 50991. 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment. Formerly 1328 Royal West Kent Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 23rd April 1917. Born Antingham, Norfolk. Lived Worstead. Enlisted Norwich. Buried: Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Ref. VII. E. 10.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=33014
No match on Norlink
The 23 year old George, (born Worstead and working as a Domestic Gardener), is recorded as a Lodger at Garden Cottage, Gasthorpe (near Diss) on the 1901 Census. Going back 10 years to the 1891 census, the 13 year old George is recorded at Brockley, Worstead, and is working as an Agricultural Labourer. This is the household of his parents, William, (aged 33 and a Painter from Westwick), and Rachel, (aged 41 from Sutton, Cambridgeshire). Their other children are:-
Sidney……………..aged 11.……………born Worstead
Frederick…………..aged 9.…………….born Worstead
Charles……………….aged 7.………………….born Worstead
Arthur…………………aged 5.…………………born Worstead
Walter………………aged 3.……………………born Worstead
Sabina………………aged 1.……………………born Worstead
On the 12th the 98th Brigade moved into the Cojeul Valley in close support, relieving the 19th Brigade in the Hindenburg Line on 16th, the 1st Middlesex and 4th Suffolks moving up into the front line, though, owing to faulty guides, it was the 17th before the Middlesex were able to relieve two companies of the 20th Royal Fusiliers in some isolated trenches ("mere ditches," the Diary calls them). But the Battalion was relieved on 20th and 21st, and on 22nd was in the sunken road between Henin-sur-Cojeul and Neuville Vitasse preparing for the operations on 23rd.
The men were issued with bombs, rifle grenades, Very lights, ground flares and sandbags, and at 4.30 p.m. the Battalion again marched off to the front line, relieving the Cameronians. These trenches were some 1,500 yards south east of Heninel, not quite half-way between that village and Fontaine-lez-Croisi1les. "A" Company was on the right and "C" on the left, "B" and "D" (right and left respectively) occupying trenches in rear of the front line. At 11.30 p.m. the two latter Companies moved into their assembly trenches just behind the front line.
By 1.30 a.m. all companies had taken up their allotted positions, "A" and "C" the first wave, "B" and "D" the second wave. Zero hour was 4.45 a.m.
Under cover of the barrage, described in the diaries as "excellent," the 98th Brigade attacked the enemy at 4.45 a.m. (23rd), 4th Suffolks on the right, and A. and S. Highlanders in the centre, and 1st Middlesex on the left. There were two separate final objectives, different means being necessary to reach each. The Suffolks had to bomb down the Hindenburg Line to the Sensée, whilst the Highlanders and the Middlesex made a frontal attack across the open; the centre of their first objective was a small oblong copse.
The attack of the Suffolks proceeded well down both trenches of the Hindenburg Line, but the Highlanders, in the centre, and "A" and "B" Companies of the Middlesex, were hung up in front of the small copse. The two left Companies of the latter Battalion ("C" and "D"), however, reached their first objective without much opposition, where 30 prisoners were taken and sent back. They then pressed on to their final objective, which they reached successfully and dug themselves in. Here they were joined by "A" Company of the Highlanders, who had fought their way past the copse. But now, unfortunately, a serious position presented itself to these three Companies, for it appeared that they were not only in the air, but the enemy was still between them and their original "jumping-off " line. Captain Beesham, therefore, made his way back along the Hindenburg Line in order to report the situation to Brigade Headquarters. But whilst he was away the enemy counter-attacked and succeeded in cutting off a portion of the Hindenburg Line, thus completely cutting off all communication with "C" and "D" Companies in their forward exposed position. To make matters worse, troops on the left of these two Companies fell back, taking with them a small party of Middlesex "moppers-up" which had taken possession of that portion of the first objective captured by "C" and "D".
The position as it affected the 1st Middlesex now stood as follows: The enemy was again in full possession of his original front line; "A" and "B" Companies of the Battalion were held up in front of the copse, i.e., the line of the first objective, and were digging themselves in; the left flank of the Battalion was absolutely in the air; the enemy had regained a portion of the Hindenburg Line; "C" and "D" Companies had broken through and had reached their final objective, but were entirely cut off, the enemy being in front and behind them.
At 12 noon all units of the 98th Brigade, with the exception of "A" Company of the 2nd A. and S. Highlanders and "C" and "D" Companies of the 1st Middlesex, were back in their original lines. Indeed, it is with these very gallant fellows who, though surrounded and subjected to violent efforts to dislodge them and capture them, resisted every attempt and bloodily repulsed the enemy again and again, that the story is chiefly concerned. The old Die-Hard spirit once more shone clearly, and the indomitable pluck of the Middlesex and their Highland comrades added yet another splendid incident to their already glorious Regimental history.
Another attack by the 98th Brigade was ordered for 6.24 p.m., to be preceded by, and under cover of, a heavy barrage. Only a very slight advance was made, and by this time orderlies, signallers and officers servants had all been pressed into the thin line.
At 8 p.m. news was received at Battalion Headquarters, 1st Middlesex, that the enemy had formed a barricade in the Hindenburg Line and was advancing towards Brigade Headquarters, but he was first held up and then driven back to his original position by the Suffoiks.
Under cover of darkness, men who had been lying out all day in shell holes crawled back, and the front line of the Brigade now consisted of about 300 men from 1st Middlesex, 2nd R.W. Fusiliers and 1st Cameronians.
But no word was received of the gallant fellows who were surrounded. The barrage for the attack at 6.24 p.m. had passed over them, but apart from knocking their trenches about considerably had fortunately inflicted very few casualties.
The night 23rd/24th passed quietly, though the enemy was obviously nervous, for he continually fired Very lights.
As dawn broke on the 24th, certain movements on the part of the enemy gave rise to the suspicion that he had vacated his position. Patrols were sent out and returned with the information that the Germans had fallen back. The 1st Middlesex, therefore, advanced at once and took possession of the hostile front-line trenches, pushing out other patrols to discover the extent of the enemy's retirement. A message now came in from the two forward Companies ("C" and "D"): they were still holding on to their position, they had even taken a few prisoners, but both officers had been wounded.
During the morning the 1st Middlesex were relieved by the 20th Royal Fusihers, but owing to the enemy's activity it was deemed unwise to withdraw "C" and "D" Companies until nightfall. But as soon as possible after darkness had fallen the intrepid Die-Hards and Highlanders were relieved, after a 40-hours' fight, completely surrounded, and reached the sunken roads at 11 p.m. It is interesting to note that of the 16 Lewis guns which the two Companies had with them, all were brought back, only one having been damaged.
freespace.virgin.net/howard.anderson/2ndbattleofscarpe.htm
Walter William WRIGHT………………………………..................(RoH)
Gunner 54767. 68th Heavy Battery, attached to Government Dairy Farm (Amara), Royal Garrison Artillery. Died in Mesopotamia on 22nd October 1918. Aged 24. Born and lived North Walsham. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Arthur and Bessie Wright, of Crossing Gates, Heath Farm, North Walsham, Norwich. Buried: Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Ref. XIV. C. 22.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=630864
No match on Norlink
The 5 year old Walter W, (born North Walsham), is recorded on the 1901 census at Norwich Road, North Walsham. This is the household of his parents, Arthur, (aged 33 and a Railway Shunter from Croxton), and Bessie, (aged 26 and from Thetford). Their other children are:-
Maud. E…………aged 7.………….born North Walsham
Rachel E………..aged 3.………….born North Walsham
Herbert Ernest YOUELLS………………………………................(RoH)
Lance Corporal 41420. 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. Formerly 6547 Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 4th October 1918. Aged 26. Born Worstead. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Thomas and Emma Youells, of Worstead, Norfolk. Buried: Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Ref. III. A. 15.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=94261
No match on Norlink
The 8 year old Herbert, born Worstead, is recorded on the 1901 census next door to Worstead House, Worstead. This is the household of his parents Thomas, (aged 75? And a Cattleman on Farm from Worstead), and Emma, (aged 35 and from Smallburgh). Their other children are:-
Charlie………….aged 5.…………..born Worstead
Emma…………..aged 10.…………born Worstead
John……………aged 16.…………born Worstead…..Agricultural Labourer
Thomas…………aged 13.…………born Worstead…Agricultural Labourer
The Genes Re-united transcriber has the whole family down as Youell, but the “s” can be seen on the scanned original document.
I can only trace the baptism of Thomas (George) on line, (the son aged 13 above). His baptism took place at St Mary on the 1st August 1887. His date of birth is shown as the 26th June 1887. His parents are Thomas and Emma, the family reside at Worstead. Father’s occupation is shown as Labourer.
www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=2120264
The Royal Irish Rifles were part of the general advance then taking place, leading to the breaching of the Hindenburg line over the following few days - an event that signified to the German Government and Military High Command that defeat was inevitable.
Simon Knott's take on the church itself
Puri is a city and a Municipality of Odisha. It is the district headquarters of Puri district, Odisha, eastern India. It is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the 12th-century Jagannath Temple located in the city. It is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Indian Hindus.
Puri was known by several names from the ancient times to the present, and locally called as Badadeula. Puri and the Jagannath Temple were invaded 18 times by Hindu and Muslim rulers, starting from the 4th century to the start of the 19th century with the objective of looting the treasures of the temple. Odisha, including Puri and its temple, were under the British Raj from 1803 till India attained independence in August 1947. Even though princely states do not exist in independent India, the heirs of the Gajapati Dynasty of Khurda still perform the ritual duties of the temple. The temple town has many Hindu religious maths or monasteries.
The economy of Puri town is dependent on the religious importance of the Jagannath Temple to the extent of nearly 80%. The festivals which contribute to the economy are the 24 held every year in the temple complex, including 13 major festivals; Ratha Yatra and its related festivals are the most important which are attended by millions of people every year. Sand art and applique art are some of the important crafts of the city. Puri is one of the 12 heritage cities chosen by the Government of India for holistic development.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
GEOGRAPHY
Puri, located on the east coast of India on the Bay of Bengal, is in the center of the district of the same name. It is delimited by the Bay of Bengal on the south east, the Mauza Sipaurubilla on the west, Mauz Gopinathpur in the north and Mauza Balukhand in the east. It is within the 67 kilometres coastal stretch of sandy beaches that extends between Chilika Lake and the south of Puri city. However, the administrative jurisdiction of the Puri Municipality extends over an area of 16.3268 square kilometres spread over 30 wards, which includes a shore line of 5 kilometres.
Puri is in the coastal delta of the Mahanadi River on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. In the ancient days it was near to Sisupalgarh (Ashokan Tosali) when the land was drained by a tributary of the River Bhargavi, a branch of the Mahanadi River, which underwent a meandering course creating many arteries altering the estuary, and formed many sand hills. These sand hills could not be "cut through" by the streams. Because of the sand hills, the Bhargavi River flowing to the south of Puri, moved away towards the Chilika Lake. This shift also resulted in the creation of two lagoons known as Sar and Samang on the eastern and northern parts of Puri respectively. Sar lagoon has a length of 8.0 km in an east-west direction and has a width of 3.2 km in north-south direction. The river estuary has a shallow depth of 1.5 m only and the process of siltation is continuing. According to a 15th-century chronicle the stream that flowed at the base of the Blue Mountain or Neelachal was used as the foundation or high plinth of the present temple which was then known as Purushottama, the Supreme Being. A 16th century chronicle attributes filling up of the bed of the river which flowed through the present Grand Road, during the reign of King Narasimha II (1278–1308).
CLIMATE
According to the Köppen and Geiger the climate of Puri is classified Aw. The city has moderate and tropical climate. Humidity is fairly high throughout the year. The temperature during summer touches a maximum of 36 °C and during winter it is 17 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,337 millimetres and the average annual temperature is 26.9 °C.
HISTORY
NAMES IN HISTORY
Puri, the holy land of Lord Jaganath, also known popularly as Badadeula in local usage, has many ancient names in the Hindu scriptures such as the Rigveda, Matsya purana, Brahma Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Kapila samhita and Niladrimahodaya. In the Rigveda, in particular, it is mentioned as a place called Purushamandama-grama meaning the place where the Creator deity of the world – Supreme Divinity deified on altar or mandapa was venerated near the coast and prayers offered with vedic hymns. Over time the name got changed to Purushottama Puri and further shortened to Puri and the Purusha became Jagannatha. Close to this place sages like Bhrigu, Atri and Markandeya had their hermitage. Its name is mentioned, conforming to the deity worshipped, as Srikshetra, Purusottama Dhāma, Purusottama Kshetra, Purusottama Puri and Jagannath Puri. Puri is however, a common usage now. It is also known the geographical features of its siting as Shankhakshetra (layout of the town is in the form of a conch shell.), Neelāchala ("blue mountain" a terminology used to name very large sand lagoon over which the temple was built but this name is not in vogue), Neelāchalakshetra, Neelādri, The word 'Puri' in Sanskrit means "town", or 'city' and is cognate with polis in Greek.
Another ancient name is Charita as identified by Cunningham which was later spelled as Che-li-ta-lo by Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang.When the present temple was built by the Ganga king Chodangadev in the 11th and 12th centuries it was called Purushottamkshetra. However, the Moghuls, the Marathas and early British rulers called it Purushottama-chhatar or just Chhatar. In Akbar's Ain-i-Akbari and subsequent Muslim historical records it was known as Purushottama. In the Sanskrit drama authored by Murari Mishra in the 8th century it is referred as Purushottama only. It was only after twelfth century Puri came to be known by the shortened form of Jagannatha Puri, named after the deity or in a short form as Puri. In some records pertaining to the British rule, the word 'Jagannath' was used for Puri. It is the only shrine in India, where Radha, along with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Bhudevi, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti abodes with Krishna, also known as Jagannath.
ANCIENT PERIOD
According to the chronicle Madala Panji, in 318 the priests and servitors of the temple spirited away the idols to escape the wrath of the Rashtrakuta King Rakatavahu. The temple's ancient historical records also finds mention in the Brahma Purana and Skanda Purana as having been built by the king Indradyumna of Ujjayani.
According to W.J. Wilkinson, in Puri, Buddhism was once a well established practice but later Buddhists were persecuted and Brahmanism became the order of the religious practice in the town; the Buddha deity in now worshipped by the Hindus as Jagannatha. It is also said that some relics of Buddha were placed inside the idol of Jagannath which the Brahmins claimed were the bones of Krishna. Even during Ashoka’s reign in 240 BC Odisha was a Buddhist center and that a tribe known as Lohabahu (barbarians from outside Odisha) converted to Buddhism and built a temple with an idol of Buddha which is now worshipped as Jagannatha. It is also said that Lohabahu deposited some Buddha relics in the precincts of the temple.
Construction of the Jagannatha Temple started in 1136 and completed towards the later part of the 12th century. The King of the Ganga dynasty, Anangabhima dedicated his kingdom to the God, then known as the Purushottam-Jagannatha and resolved that from then on he and his descendants would rule under "divine order as Jagannatha's sons and vassals". Even though princely states do not exist in independent India, the heirs of the Gajapati dynasty of Khurda still perform the ritual duties of the temple; the king formally sweeps the road in front of the chariots before the start of the Rathayatra.
MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIODS
History of the temple is the history of the town of Puri, which was invaded 18 times during its history to plunder the treasures of the Jagannath Puri temple. The first invasion was in the 8th century by Rastrakuta king Govinda-III (AD 798–814) and the last was in 1881 by the followers of Alekh Religion who did not recognize Jagannath worship. In between, from the 1205 onward there were many invasions of the city and its temple by Muslims of the Afghans and Moghuls descent, known as Yavanas or foreigners; they had mounted attacks to ransack the wealth of the temple rather than for religious reasons. In most of these invasions the idols were taken to safe places by the priests and the servitors of the temple. Destruction of the temple was prevented by timely resistance or surrender by the kings of the region. However, the treasures of the temple were repeatedly looted. Puri is the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya, when he visited Puri in 810 and since then it has become an important dham (divine centre) for the Hindus; the others being those at Sringeri, Dwaraka and Jyotirmath. The matha is headed by Jagatguru Shankarachrya. The significance of the four dhams is that the Lord Vishnu takes his dinner at Puri, has his bath at Rameshwaram, spends the night at Dwarka and does penance at Badrinath.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Bengal who established the Bhakti movements of India in the sixteenth century, now known by the name the Hare Krishna movement, spent many years as a devotee of Jagannatha at Puri; he is said to have merged his "corporal self" with the deity. There is also a matha of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu here.
In the 17th century for the sailors sailing on the east coast of India, the landmark was the temple located in a plaza in the centre of the town which they called the "White Pagoda" while the Konark Sun Temple, 60 kilometres away to the east of Puri, was known as the "Black Pagoda".
The iconographic representation of the images in the Jagannath temple are believed to be the forms derived from the worship made by the tribal groups of Sabaras belonging to northern Odisha. These images are replaced at regular intervals as the wood deteriorates. This replacement is a special event carried out ritulistically by special group of carpenters.
The town has many Mathas (Monasteries of the various Hindu sects). Among the important mathas is the Emar Matha founded by the Tamil Vaishnav Saint Ramanujacharya in the 12th century AD. At present this matha is located in front of Simhadvara across the eastern corner of the Jagannath Temple is reported to have been built in the 16th century during the reign of Suryavamsi Gajapati. The matha was in the news recently for the large cache of 522 silver slabs unearthded from a closed room.
The British conquered Orissa in 1803 and recognizing the importance of the Jagannatha Temple in the life of the people of the state they initially placed an official to look after the temple's affairs and later declared it a district with the same name.
MODERN HISTORY
In 1906, Sri Yukteswar an exponent of Kriya Yoga, a resident of Puri, established an ashram in the sea-side town of Puri, naming it "Kararashram" as a spiritual training center. He died on 9 March 1936 and his body is buried in the garden of the ashram.
The city is the site of the former summer residence of British Raj built in 1913–14 during the era of governors, the Raj Bhavan.
For the people of Puri Lord Jagannath, visualized as Lord Krishna, is synonymous with their city. They believe that the Jagannatha looks after the welfare of the state. However, after the incident of the partial collapse of the Jagannatha Temple, the Amalaka part of the tower on 14 June 1990 people became apprehensive and thought it was not a good omen for the welfare of the State of Odisha. The replacement of the fallen stone by another of the same size and weight (seven tons) had to be done only in the an early morning hours after the gods had woken up after a good nights sleep which was done on 28 February 1991.
Puri has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of the Indian Government. It is one of 12 the heritage cities chosen with "focus on holistic development" to be implemented in 27 months by end of March 2017.
Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the shrines but are allowed to view the temple and the proceedings from the roof of the Raghunandan library within the precincts of the temple for a small donation.
DEMOGRAPHICS
As of 2001 India census, Puri city, an urban Agglomeration governed by Municipal Corporation in Orissa state, had a population of 157,610 which increased to 200,564 in 2011. Males, 104,086, females, 96,478, children under 6 years of age, 18,471. The sex ratio is 927 females to 1000 males. Puri has an average literacy rate of 88.03 percent (91.38 percent males and 84.43 percent females). Religion-wise data is not reported.
ECONOMY
The economy of Puri is dependent on tourism to the extent of about 80%. The temple is the focal point of the entire area of the town and provides major employment to the people of the town. Agricultural production of rice, ghee, vegetables and so forth of the region meets the huge requirements of the temple, with many settlements aroiund the town exclusively catering to the other religious paraphernalia of the temple. The temple administration employs 6,000 men to perform the rituals. The temple also provides economic sustenance to 20,000 people belonging to 36 orders and 97 classes. The kitchen of the temple which is said to be the largest in the world employs 400 cooks.
CITY MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE
Puri Municipality, Puri Konark Development Authority, Public Health Engineering Organisastion, Orissa Water Supply Sewerage Board are some of the principal organizations that are devolved with the responsibility of providing for all the urban needs of civic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, waste management, street lighting, and infrastructure of roads. The major activity which puts maximum presuure on these organizations is the annual event of the Ratha Yatra held for 10 days during July when more than a million people attend the grand event. This event involves to a very large extent the development activities such as infrastructure and amenities to the pilgrims, apart from security to the pilgrims.
The civic administration of Puri is the responsibility of the Puri Municipality which came into existence in 1864 in the name of Puri Improvement Trust which got converted into Puri Municipality in 1881. After India's independence in 1947, Orissa Municipal Act-1950 was promulgated entrusting the administration of the city to the Puri Municipality. This body is represented by elected representative with a Chairperson and councilors representing the 30 wards within the municipal limits.
LANDMARKS
JAGANNATH TEMPLE AT PURI
The Temple of Jagannath at Puri is one of the major Hindu temples built in the Kalinga style of architecture, in respect of its plan, front view and structural detailing. It is one of the Pancharatha (Five chariots) type consisting of two anurathas, two konakas and one ratha with well-developed pagas. Vimana or Deula is the sanctum sanctorum where the triad (three) deities are deified on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls), and over which is the temple tower, known as the rekha deula; the latter is built over a rectangular base of the pidha temples as its roof is made up of pidhas that are sequentially arranged horizontal platforms built in descending order forming a pyramidal shape. The mandapa in front of the sanctum sanctorum is known as Jagamohana where devotees assemble to offer worship. The temple tower with a spire rises to a height of 58 m in height and a flag is unfurled above it fixed over a wheel (chakra). Within the temple complex is the Nata Mandir, a large hall where Garuda stamba (pillar). Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to stand here and pray. In the interior of the Bhoga Mantap, adjoining the Nata mandir, there is profusion of decorations of sculptures and paintings which narrate the story of Lord Krishna. The temple is built on an elevated platform (of about 39,000 m2 area), 20 ft above the adjoining area. The temple rises to a height of 214 ft above the road level. The temple complex covers an area of 4,3 ha. There is double walled enclosure, rectangular in shape (rising to a height of 20 ft) surrounding the temple complex of which the outer wall is known as Meghanada Prachira, measuring 200 by 192 metres. The inner walled enclosure, known as Kurmabedha. measures 126m x 95m. There are four entry gates (in four cardinal directions to the temple located at the center of the walls in the four directions of the outer circle. These are: the eastern gate called Singhadwara (Lions Gate), the southern gate known as Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate), the western gate called the Vyaghra Dwara (Tigers Gate) or the Khanja Gate, and the northern gate called the Hathi Dwara or (elephant gate). The four gates symbolize the four fundamental principles of Dharma (right conduct), Jnana (knowledge), Vairagya (renunciation) and Aishwarya (prosperity). The gates are crowned with pyramid shapes structures. There is stone pillar in front of the Singhadwara called the Aruna Stambha {Solar Pillar}, 11 metres in height with 16 faces, made of chlorite stone, at the top of which is mounted an elegant statue of Arun (Sun) in a prayer mode. This pillar was shifted from the Konarak Sun temple. All the gates are decorated with guardian statues in the form of lion, horse mounted men, tigers and elephants in the name and order of the gates. A pillar made of fossilized wood is used for placing lamps as offering. The Lion Gate (Singhadwara) is the main gate to the temple, which guarded by two guardian deities Jaya and Vijaya. The main gates is ascended through 22 steps known as Baisi Pahaca which are revered as it is said to possess "spiritual animation". Children are made to roll down these steps from top to bottom to bring them spiritual happiness. After entering the temple on the left hand side there is huge kitchen where food is prepared in hygienic conditions in huge quantities that it is termed as "the biggest hotel of the world".
The legend says that King Indradyumma was directed by Lord Jagannath in a dream to build a temple for him and he built it as directed. However, according to historical records the temple was started some time during the 12th century by King Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It was however completed by his descendant, Anangabhima Deva, in the 12th century. The wooden images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were then deified here. The temple was under the control of the Hindu rulers up to 1558. Then, when Orissa was occupied by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal, it was brought under the control of the Afghan General Kalapahad. Following the defeat of the Afghan king by Raja Mansingh, the General of Mughal emperor Akbar, the temple became a part of the Mughal empire till 1751 AD. Subsequently it was under the control of the Marathas till 1803. Then, when British Raj took over Orissa, the Puri Raja was entrusted with its to management until 1947.
The triad of images in the temple are of Jagannatha, personifying Lord Krishna, Balabhadra, his older brother, and Subhadra his younger sister, which are made of wood (neem) in an unfinished form. The stumps of wood which form the images of the brothers have human arms and that of Subhadra does not have any arms. The heads are large and un-carved and are painted. The faces are made distinct with the large circular shaped eyes.
THE PANCHA TIRTHA OF PURI
Hindus consider it essential to bathe in the Pancha Tirtha or the five sacred bathing spots of Puri, India, to complete a pilgrimage to Puri. The five sacred water bodies are the Indradyumana Tank, the Rohini Kunda, the Markandeya Tank, Swetaganga Tank, and the The Sea also called the Mahodadhi is considered a sacred bathing spot in the Swargadwar area. These tanks have perennial sources of supply in the form of rain water and ground water.
GUNDICHA TEMPLE
Known as the Garden House of Jagannath, the Gundicha temple stands in the centre of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. It lies at a distance of about 3 kilometres to the north east of the Jagannath Temple. The two temples are located at the two ends of the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue) which is the pathway for the Rath Yatra. According to a legend, Gundicha was the wife of King Indradyumna who originally built the Jagannath temple.
The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture in the Deula style. The complex comprises four components: vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage. The temple is set within a garden, and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or garden house of Jagannath. The entire complex, including garden, is surrounded by a wall which measures 131 m × 98 m with height of 6.1 m.
Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when triad images are worshipped in Gundicha Temple, the rest of the year it remains unoccupied. Tourists can visit the temple after paying an entry fee. Foreigners (prohibited entry in the main temple) are allowed inside this temple during this period. The temple is under the Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri – the governing body of the main temple. A small band of servitors maintain the temple.
SWARGADWAR
Swargadwar is the name given to the cremation ground or burning ghat which is located on the shores of the sea were thousands of dead bodies of Hindus are brought from faraway places to cremate. It is a belief that the Chitanya Mahaparabhu disppaeread from this Swargadwar about 500 years back.
BEACH
The beach at Puri known as the "Ballighai beach} is 8 km away at the mouth of Nunai River from the town and is fringed by casurian trees. It has golden yellow sand and has pleasant sunshine. Sunrise and sunset are pleasant scenic attractions here. Waves break in at the beach which is long and wide.
DISTRICT MUSEUM
The Puri district museum is located on the station road where the exhibits are of different types of garments worn by Lord Jagannath, local sculptures, patachitra (traditional, cloth-based scroll painting) and ancient Palm-leaf manuscripts and local craft work.
RAGHUNANDANA LIBRARY
Raghunandana Library is located in the Emmra matha complex (opposite Simhadwara or Lion gate, the main entrance gate). The Jagannatha Aitihasika Gavesana Samiti (Jagannatha Historical Center) is also located here. The library contains ancient palm leaf manuscripts of Jagannatha, His cult and the history of the city. From the roof of the library one gets a picturesque view of the temple complex.
FESTIVALS OF PURI
Puri witnesses 24 festivals every year, of which 13 are major festivals. The most important of these is the Rath Yatra or the Car festival held in the month June–July which is attended by more than 1 million people.
RATH YATRA AT PURI
The Jagannath triad are usually worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri, but once during the month of Asadha (Rainy Season of Orissa, usually falling in month of June or July), they are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel 3 kilometrer to the Shri Gundicha Temple, in huge chariots (ratha), allowing the public to have darśana (Holy view). This festival is known as Rath Yatra, meaning the journey (yatra) of the chariots (ratha). The yatra starts, according to Hindu calendar Asadha Sukla Dwitiya )the second day of bright fortnight of Asadha (June–July) every year.
Historically, the ruling Ganga dynasty instituted the Rath Yatra at the completion of the great temple around 1150 AD. This festival was one of those Hindu festivals that was reported to the Western world very early. In his own account of 1321, Odoric reported how the people put the "idols" on chariots, and the King and Queen and all the people drew them from the "church" with song and music.
The Rathas are huge wheeled wooden structures, which are built anew every year and are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is about 14 m high and 35 feet square and takes about 2 months to construct. Th chariot is mounted with 16 wheels, each of 2.1 m diameter. The carvings in the front of the chariot has four wooden horses drawn by Maruti. On its other three faces the wooden carvings are Rama, Surya and Vishnu. The chariot is known as Nandi Ghosha. The roof of the chariot is covered with yellow and golden coloured cloth. The next chariot is that of Balabhadra which is 13 m in height fitted with 14 wheels. The chariot is carved with Satyaki as the charioteer. The carvings on this chariot also include images of Narasimha and Rudra as Jagannath's companions. The next chariot in the order is that of Subhadra, which is 13 m in height supported on 12 wheels, roof covered in black and red colour cloth and the chariot is known as Darpa-Dalaan. The charioteer carved is Arjuna. Other images carved on the chariot are that of Vana Durga, Tara Devi and Chandi Devi. The artists and painters of Puri decorate the cars and paint flower petals and other designs on the wheels, the wood-carved charioteer and horses, and the inverted lotuses on the wall behind the throne. The huge chariots of Jagannath pulled during Rath Yatra is the etymological origin of the English word Juggernaut. The Ratha-Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra and Ghosha yatra
CHHERA PAHARA
The Chhera Pahara is a significant ritual associated with the Ratha-Yatra. During the festival, the Gajapati King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (sweeping with water) ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the Gajapati King has been considered the most exalted person in the Kalingan kingdom, he still renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual signified that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the most humble devotee.
CHADAN YATRA
In Akshaya Tritiya every year the Chandan Yatra festival marks the commencement of the construction of the Chariots of the Rath Yatra. It also marks the celebration of the Hindu new year.
SNANA YATRA
On the Purnima day in the month of Jyestha (June) the triad images of the Jagannath temple are ceremonially bathed and decorated every year on the occasion of Snana Yatra. Water for the bath is taken in 108 pots from the Suna kuan (meaning: "golden well") located near the northern gate of the temple. Water is drawn from this well only once in a year for the sole purpose of this religious bath of the deities. After the bath the triad images are dressed in the fashion of the elephant god, Ganesha. Later during the night the original triad images are taken out in a procession back to the main temple but kept at a place known as Anasara pindi. After this the Jhulana Yatra is when proxy images of the deities are taken out in a grand procession for 21 days, cruised over boats in the Narmada tank.
ANAVASARA OR ANASARA
Anasara literally means vacation. Every year, the triad images without the Sudarshan after the holy Snana Yatra are taken to a secret altar named Anavasara Ghar Palso known as "Anasara pindi} where they remain for the next dark fortnight (Krishna paksha). Hence devotees are not allowed to view them. Instead of this devotees go to nearby place Brahmagiri to see their beloved lord in the form of four handed form Alarnath a form of Vishnu. Then people get the first glimpse of lord on the day before Rath Yatra, which is called Navayouvana. It is said that the gods suffer from fever after taking ritual detailed bath and they are treated by the special servants named, Daitapatis for 15 days. Daitapatis perform special niti (rite) known as Netrotchhaba (a rite of painting the eyes of the triad). During this period cooked food is not offered to the deities.
NAVA KALEVARA
One of the most grandiloquent events associated with the Lord Jagannath, Naba Kalabera takes place when one lunar month of Ashadha is followed by another lunar month of Aashadha, called Adhika Masa (extra month). This can take place in 8, 12 or even 18 years. Literally meaning the "New Body" (Nava = New, Kalevar = Body), the festival is witnessed by as millions of people and the budget for this event exceeds $500,000. The event involves installation of new images in the temple and burial of the old ones in the temple premises at Koili Vaikuntha. The idols that were worshipped in the temple, installed in the year 1996, were replaced by specially made new images made of neem wood during Nabakalebara 2015 ceremony held during July 2015. More than 3 million devotees were expected to visit the temple during the Nabakalebara 2015 held in July.
SUNA BESHA
Suna Bhesha also known as Raja or Rajadhiraja bhesha or Raja Bhesha, is an event when the triad images of the Jagannath Temple are adorned with gold jewelry. This event is observed 5 times during a year. It is commonly observed on Magha Purnima (January), Bahuda Ekadashi also known as Asadha Ekadashi (July), Dashahara (Vijyadashami) (October), Karthik Purnima (November), and Pousa Purnima (December). While one such Suna Bhesha event is observed on Bahuda Ekadashi during the Rath Yatra on the chariots placed at the lion's gate or the Singhdwar; the other four Bheshas' are observed inside the temple on the Ratna Singhasana (gem studded altar). On this occasion gold plates are decorated over the hands and feet of Jagannath and Balabhadra; Jagannath is also adorned with a Chakra (disc) made of gold on the right hand while a silver conch adorns the left hand. However, Balabhadra is decorated with a plough made of gold on the left hand while a golden mace adorns his right hand.
NILADRI BIJE
Celebrated on Asadha Trayodashi. It marks the end of the 12 days Ratha yatra. The large wooden images of the triad of gods are moved from the chariots and then carried to the sanctum sanctorum, swaying rhythmically, a ritual which is known as pahandi.
SAHI YATRA
Considered the world's biggest open-air theatre, the Sahi yatra is an 11 day long traditional cultural theatre festival or folk drama which begins on Ram Navami and ending in Rama avishke (Sanskrit:anointing) every year. The festival includes plays depicting various scenes from the Ramayan. The residents of various localities or Sahis are entrusted the task of performing the drama at the street corners.
TRANSPORT
Earlier when roads did not exist people walked or travelled by animal drawn vehicles or carriages along beaten tracks. Up to Calcutta travel was by riverine craft along the Ganges and then by foot or carriages to Puri. It was only during the Maratha rule that the popular Jagannath Sadak (Road) was built around 1790. The East India Company laid the rail track from Calcutta to Puri which became operational in 1898. Puri is now well connected by rail, road and air services. A broad gauge railway line of the South Eastern Railways connects with Puri and Khurda is an important Railway junction. By rail it is about 499 kilometres away from Calcutta and 468 kilometres from Vishakhapatnam. Road network includes NH 203 that links the town with Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha which is about 60 kilometres away. NH 203 B connects the town with Satapada via Brahmagiri. Marine drive which is part of NH 203 A connects Puri with Konark. The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, about 60 kilometres away from Puri. Puri railway station is among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
SAND ART
Sand art is a special art form that is created on the beaches of the sea coast of Puri. The art form is attributed to Balaram Das, a poet who lived in the 14th century. He started crafting the sand art forms of the triad deities of the Jagannath Temple at the Puri beach. Now sculptures in sand of various gods and famous people are created by amateur artists which are temporal in nature as they get washed away by waves. This is an art form which has gained international fame in recent years. One of the well known sand artist is Sudarshan Patnaik. He has established the Golden Sand Art Institute in 1995 at the beach to provide training to students interested in this art form.
APPLIQUE ART
Applique art work, which is a stitching based craft, unlike embroidery, which was pioneered by the Hatta Maharana of Pipili is widely used in Puri, both for decoration of the deities but also for sale. His family members are employed as darjis or tailors or sebaks by the Maharaja of Puri who prepare articles for decorating the deities in the temple for various festivals and religious ceremonies. These applique works are brightly coloured and patterned fabric in the form of canopies, umbrellas, drapery, carry bags, flags, coberings of dummy horses and cows, and other household textiles which are marketed in Puri. The cloth used are in dark colours of red, black, yellow, green, blue and turquoise blue.
CULTURE
Cultural activities, apart from religiuos festivals, held annually are: The Puri Beach Festival held between 5 and 9 November and the Shreeksherta Utsav held from 20 December to 2 January where cultural programmes include unique sand art, display of local and traditional handicrafts and food festival. In addition cultural programmes are held every Saturday for two hours on in second Saturday of the moth at the district Collector's Conference Hall near Sea Beach Polic Station. Apart from Odissi dance, Odiya music, folk dances, and cultural programmes are part of this event. Odishi dance is the cultural heritage of Puri. This dance form originated in Puri in the dances performed Devadasis (Maharis) attached to the Jagannath temple who performed dances in the Natamantapa of the temple to please the deities. Though the devadadsi practice has been discontinued, the dance form has become modern and classical and is widely popular, and many of the Odishi virtuoso artists and gurus (teachers) are from Puri.
EDUCATION
SOME OF THE EDUCATIONNAL INSTITUTIONS IN PURI
- Ghanashyama Hemalata Institute of Technology and Management
- Gangadhar Mohapatra Law College, established in 1981[84]
- Extension Unit of Regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy; Puri under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi established in March 2006
- Sri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, established in July 1981
- The Industrial Training Institute, a Premier Technical Institution to provide education in skilled, committed & talented technicians, established in 1966 of the Government of India
PURI PEOPLE
Gopabandhu Das
Acharya Harihar
Nilakantha Das
Kelucharan Mohapatra
Pankaj Charan Das
Manasi Pradhan
Raghunath Mohapatra
Sudarshan Patnaik
Biswanath Sahinayak
Rituraj Mohanty
WIKIPEDIA
♪♫ In The Name Of Love - Grover Washington jr.r ♪♫
Mucho Mejor en Grande!! Mor better in Great!!
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Es un placer disfrutar de vuestro arte como personas y amantes de la fotografía...
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It wanted to do something special for this day and me nothing better has been happened than to make a session to the SuperSamsug in its favorite armchair, now enjoys its fabulous one and deserved retirement, of its new house, that new box of Olympus where it lives placidly with his magnetic objectives, with his diffuser of champú boat, curing themselves of the wounds military, remembering so many battles and adventures…
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Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax FA 50mm 1.4, Pentax 18-50mm, Sigma 50-150mm 2,8!
Sigma ef 530 dg st into umbrella above camera
Puri is a city and a Municipality of Odisha. It is the district headquarters of Puri district, Odisha, eastern India. It is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the 12th-century Jagannath Temple located in the city. It is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Indian Hindus.
Puri was known by several names from the ancient times to the present, and locally called as Badadeula. Puri and the Jagannath Temple were invaded 18 times by Hindu and Muslim rulers, starting from the 4th century to the start of the 19th century with the objective of looting the treasures of the temple. Odisha, including Puri and its temple, were under the British Raj from 1803 till India attained independence in August 1947. Even though princely states do not exist in independent India, the heirs of the Gajapati Dynasty of Khurda still perform the ritual duties of the temple. The temple town has many Hindu religious maths or monasteries.
The economy of Puri town is dependent on the religious importance of the Jagannath Temple to the extent of nearly 80%. The festivals which contribute to the economy are the 24 held every year in the temple complex, including 13 major festivals; Ratha Yatra and its related festivals are the most important which are attended by millions of people every year. Sand art and applique art are some of the important crafts of the city. Puri is one of the 12 heritage cities chosen by the Government of India for holistic development.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
GEOGRAPHY
Puri, located on the east coast of India on the Bay of Bengal, is in the center of the district of the same name. It is delimited by the Bay of Bengal on the south east, the Mauza Sipaurubilla on the west, Mauz Gopinathpur in the north and Mauza Balukhand in the east. It is within the 67 kilometres coastal stretch of sandy beaches that extends between Chilika Lake and the south of Puri city. However, the administrative jurisdiction of the Puri Municipality extends over an area of 16.3268 square kilometres spread over 30 wards, which includes a shore line of 5 kilometres.
Puri is in the coastal delta of the Mahanadi River on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. In the ancient days it was near to Sisupalgarh (Ashokan Tosali) when the land was drained by a tributary of the River Bhargavi, a branch of the Mahanadi River, which underwent a meandering course creating many arteries altering the estuary, and formed many sand hills. These sand hills could not be "cut through" by the streams. Because of the sand hills, the Bhargavi River flowing to the south of Puri, moved away towards the Chilika Lake. This shift also resulted in the creation of two lagoons known as Sar and Samang on the eastern and northern parts of Puri respectively. Sar lagoon has a length of 8.0 km in an east-west direction and has a width of 3.2 km in north-south direction. The river estuary has a shallow depth of 1.5 m only and the process of siltation is continuing. According to a 15th-century chronicle the stream that flowed at the base of the Blue Mountain or Neelachal was used as the foundation or high plinth of the present temple which was then known as Purushottama, the Supreme Being. A 16th century chronicle attributes filling up of the bed of the river which flowed through the present Grand Road, during the reign of King Narasimha II (1278–1308).
CLIMATE
According to the Köppen and Geiger the climate of Puri is classified Aw. The city has moderate and tropical climate. Humidity is fairly high throughout the year. The temperature during summer touches a maximum of 36 °C and during winter it is 17 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,337 millimetres and the average annual temperature is 26.9 °C.
HISTORY
NAMES IN HISTORY
Puri, the holy land of Lord Jaganath, also known popularly as Badadeula in local usage, has many ancient names in the Hindu scriptures such as the Rigveda, Matsya purana, Brahma Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Kapila samhita and Niladrimahodaya. In the Rigveda, in particular, it is mentioned as a place called Purushamandama-grama meaning the place where the Creator deity of the world – Supreme Divinity deified on altar or mandapa was venerated near the coast and prayers offered with vedic hymns. Over time the name got changed to Purushottama Puri and further shortened to Puri and the Purusha became Jagannatha. Close to this place sages like Bhrigu, Atri and Markandeya had their hermitage. Its name is mentioned, conforming to the deity worshipped, as Srikshetra, Purusottama Dhāma, Purusottama Kshetra, Purusottama Puri and Jagannath Puri. Puri is however, a common usage now. It is also known the geographical features of its siting as Shankhakshetra (layout of the town is in the form of a conch shell.), Neelāchala ("blue mountain" a terminology used to name very large sand lagoon over which the temple was built but this name is not in vogue), Neelāchalakshetra, Neelādri, The word 'Puri' in Sanskrit means "town", or 'city' and is cognate with polis in Greek.
Another ancient name is Charita as identified by Cunningham which was later spelled as Che-li-ta-lo by Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang.When the present temple was built by the Ganga king Chodangadev in the 11th and 12th centuries it was called Purushottamkshetra. However, the Moghuls, the Marathas and early British rulers called it Purushottama-chhatar or just Chhatar. In Akbar's Ain-i-Akbari and subsequent Muslim historical records it was known as Purushottama. In the Sanskrit drama authored by Murari Mishra in the 8th century it is referred as Purushottama only. It was only after twelfth century Puri came to be known by the shortened form of Jagannatha Puri, named after the deity or in a short form as Puri. In some records pertaining to the British rule, the word 'Jagannath' was used for Puri. It is the only shrine in India, where Radha, along with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Bhudevi, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti abodes with Krishna, also known as Jagannath.
ANCIENT PERIOD
According to the chronicle Madala Panji, in 318 the priests and servitors of the temple spirited away the idols to escape the wrath of the Rashtrakuta King Rakatavahu. The temple's ancient historical records also finds mention in the Brahma Purana and Skanda Purana as having been built by the king Indradyumna of Ujjayani.
According to W.J. Wilkinson, in Puri, Buddhism was once a well established practice but later Buddhists were persecuted and Brahmanism became the order of the religious practice in the town; the Buddha deity in now worshipped by the Hindus as Jagannatha. It is also said that some relics of Buddha were placed inside the idol of Jagannath which the Brahmins claimed were the bones of Krishna. Even during Ashoka’s reign in 240 BC Odisha was a Buddhist center and that a tribe known as Lohabahu (barbarians from outside Odisha) converted to Buddhism and built a temple with an idol of Buddha which is now worshipped as Jagannatha. It is also said that Lohabahu deposited some Buddha relics in the precincts of the temple.
Construction of the Jagannatha Temple started in 1136 and completed towards the later part of the 12th century. The King of the Ganga dynasty, Anangabhima dedicated his kingdom to the God, then known as the Purushottam-Jagannatha and resolved that from then on he and his descendants would rule under "divine order as Jagannatha's sons and vassals". Even though princely states do not exist in independent India, the heirs of the Gajapati dynasty of Khurda still perform the ritual duties of the temple; the king formally sweeps the road in front of the chariots before the start of the Rathayatra.
MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN PERIODS
History of the temple is the history of the town of Puri, which was invaded 18 times during its history to plunder the treasures of the Jagannath Puri temple. The first invasion was in the 8th century by Rastrakuta king Govinda-III (AD 798–814) and the last was in 1881 by the followers of Alekh Religion who did not recognize Jagannath worship. In between, from the 1205 onward there were many invasions of the city and its temple by Muslims of the Afghans and Moghuls descent, known as Yavanas or foreigners; they had mounted attacks to ransack the wealth of the temple rather than for religious reasons. In most of these invasions the idols were taken to safe places by the priests and the servitors of the temple. Destruction of the temple was prevented by timely resistance or surrender by the kings of the region. However, the treasures of the temple were repeatedly looted. Puri is the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya, when he visited Puri in 810 and since then it has become an important dham (divine centre) for the Hindus; the others being those at Sringeri, Dwaraka and Jyotirmath. The matha is headed by Jagatguru Shankarachrya. The significance of the four dhams is that the Lord Vishnu takes his dinner at Puri, has his bath at Rameshwaram, spends the night at Dwarka and does penance at Badrinath.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Bengal who established the Bhakti movements of India in the sixteenth century, now known by the name the Hare Krishna movement, spent many years as a devotee of Jagannatha at Puri; he is said to have merged his "corporal self" with the deity. There is also a matha of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu here.
In the 17th century for the sailors sailing on the east coast of India, the landmark was the temple located in a plaza in the centre of the town which they called the "White Pagoda" while the Konark Sun Temple, 60 kilometres away to the east of Puri, was known as the "Black Pagoda".
The iconographic representation of the images in the Jagannath temple are believed to be the forms derived from the worship made by the tribal groups of Sabaras belonging to northern Odisha. These images are replaced at regular intervals as the wood deteriorates. This replacement is a special event carried out ritulistically by special group of carpenters.
The town has many Mathas (Monasteries of the various Hindu sects). Among the important mathas is the Emar Matha founded by the Tamil Vaishnav Saint Ramanujacharya in the 12th century AD. At present this matha is located in front of Simhadvara across the eastern corner of the Jagannath Temple is reported to have been built in the 16th century during the reign of Suryavamsi Gajapati. The matha was in the news recently for the large cache of 522 silver slabs unearthded from a closed room.
The British conquered Orissa in 1803 and recognizing the importance of the Jagannatha Temple in the life of the people of the state they initially placed an official to look after the temple's affairs and later declared it a district with the same name.
MODERN HISTORY
In 1906, Sri Yukteswar an exponent of Kriya Yoga, a resident of Puri, established an ashram in the sea-side town of Puri, naming it "Kararashram" as a spiritual training center. He died on 9 March 1936 and his body is buried in the garden of the ashram.
The city is the site of the former summer residence of British Raj built in 1913–14 during the era of governors, the Raj Bhavan.
For the people of Puri Lord Jagannath, visualized as Lord Krishna, is synonymous with their city. They believe that the Jagannatha looks after the welfare of the state. However, after the incident of the partial collapse of the Jagannatha Temple, the Amalaka part of the tower on 14 June 1990 people became apprehensive and thought it was not a good omen for the welfare of the State of Odisha. The replacement of the fallen stone by another of the same size and weight (seven tons) had to be done only in the an early morning hours after the gods had woken up after a good nights sleep which was done on 28 February 1991.
Puri has been chosen as one of the heritage cities for the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of the Indian Government. It is one of 12 the heritage cities chosen with "focus on holistic development" to be implemented in 27 months by end of March 2017.
Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the shrines but are allowed to view the temple and the proceedings from the roof of the Raghunandan library within the precincts of the temple for a small donation.
DEMOGRAPHICS
As of 2001 India census, Puri city, an urban Agglomeration governed by Municipal Corporation in Orissa state, had a population of 157,610 which increased to 200,564 in 2011. Males, 104,086, females, 96,478, children under 6 years of age, 18,471. The sex ratio is 927 females to 1000 males. Puri has an average literacy rate of 88.03 percent (91.38 percent males and 84.43 percent females). Religion-wise data is not reported.
ECONOMY
The economy of Puri is dependent on tourism to the extent of about 80%. The temple is the focal point of the entire area of the town and provides major employment to the people of the town. Agricultural production of rice, ghee, vegetables and so forth of the region meets the huge requirements of the temple, with many settlements aroiund the town exclusively catering to the other religious paraphernalia of the temple. The temple administration employs 6,000 men to perform the rituals. The temple also provides economic sustenance to 20,000 people belonging to 36 orders and 97 classes. The kitchen of the temple which is said to be the largest in the world employs 400 cooks.
CITY MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE
Puri Municipality, Puri Konark Development Authority, Public Health Engineering Organisastion, Orissa Water Supply Sewerage Board are some of the principal organizations that are devolved with the responsibility of providing for all the urban needs of civic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, waste management, street lighting, and infrastructure of roads. The major activity which puts maximum presuure on these organizations is the annual event of the Ratha Yatra held for 10 days during July when more than a million people attend the grand event. This event involves to a very large extent the development activities such as infrastructure and amenities to the pilgrims, apart from security to the pilgrims.
The civic administration of Puri is the responsibility of the Puri Municipality which came into existence in 1864 in the name of Puri Improvement Trust which got converted into Puri Municipality in 1881. After India's independence in 1947, Orissa Municipal Act-1950 was promulgated entrusting the administration of the city to the Puri Municipality. This body is represented by elected representative with a Chairperson and councilors representing the 30 wards within the municipal limits.
LANDMARKS
JAGANNATH TEMPLE AT PURI
The Temple of Jagannath at Puri is one of the major Hindu temples built in the Kalinga style of architecture, in respect of its plan, front view and structural detailing. It is one of the Pancharatha (Five chariots) type consisting of two anurathas, two konakas and one ratha with well-developed pagas. Vimana or Deula is the sanctum sanctorum where the triad (three) deities are deified on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls), and over which is the temple tower, known as the rekha deula; the latter is built over a rectangular base of the pidha temples as its roof is made up of pidhas that are sequentially arranged horizontal platforms built in descending order forming a pyramidal shape. The mandapa in front of the sanctum sanctorum is known as Jagamohana where devotees assemble to offer worship. The temple tower with a spire rises to a height of 58 m in height and a flag is unfurled above it fixed over a wheel (chakra). Within the temple complex is the Nata Mandir, a large hall where Garuda stamba (pillar). Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to stand here and pray. In the interior of the Bhoga Mantap, adjoining the Nata mandir, there is profusion of decorations of sculptures and paintings which narrate the story of Lord Krishna. The temple is built on an elevated platform (of about 39,000 m2 area), 20 ft above the adjoining area. The temple rises to a height of 214 ft above the road level. The temple complex covers an area of 4,3 ha. There is double walled enclosure, rectangular in shape (rising to a height of 20 ft) surrounding the temple complex of which the outer wall is known as Meghanada Prachira, measuring 200 by 192 metres. The inner walled enclosure, known as Kurmabedha. measures 126m x 95m. There are four entry gates (in four cardinal directions to the temple located at the center of the walls in the four directions of the outer circle. These are: the eastern gate called Singhadwara (Lions Gate), the southern gate known as Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate), the western gate called the Vyaghra Dwara (Tigers Gate) or the Khanja Gate, and the northern gate called the Hathi Dwara or (elephant gate). The four gates symbolize the four fundamental principles of Dharma (right conduct), Jnana (knowledge), Vairagya (renunciation) and Aishwarya (prosperity). The gates are crowned with pyramid shapes structures. There is stone pillar in front of the Singhadwara called the Aruna Stambha {Solar Pillar}, 11 metres in height with 16 faces, made of chlorite stone, at the top of which is mounted an elegant statue of Arun (Sun) in a prayer mode. This pillar was shifted from the Konarak Sun temple. All the gates are decorated with guardian statues in the form of lion, horse mounted men, tigers and elephants in the name and order of the gates. A pillar made of fossilized wood is used for placing lamps as offering. The Lion Gate (Singhadwara) is the main gate to the temple, which guarded by two guardian deities Jaya and Vijaya. The main gates is ascended through 22 steps known as Baisi Pahaca which are revered as it is said to possess "spiritual animation". Children are made to roll down these steps from top to bottom to bring them spiritual happiness. After entering the temple on the left hand side there is huge kitchen where food is prepared in hygienic conditions in huge quantities that it is termed as "the biggest hotel of the world".
The legend says that King Indradyumma was directed by Lord Jagannath in a dream to build a temple for him and he built it as directed. However, according to historical records the temple was started some time during the 12th century by King Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It was however completed by his descendant, Anangabhima Deva, in the 12th century. The wooden images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were then deified here. The temple was under the control of the Hindu rulers up to 1558. Then, when Orissa was occupied by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal, it was brought under the control of the Afghan General Kalapahad. Following the defeat of the Afghan king by Raja Mansingh, the General of Mughal emperor Akbar, the temple became a part of the Mughal empire till 1751 AD. Subsequently it was under the control of the Marathas till 1803. Then, when British Raj took over Orissa, the Puri Raja was entrusted with its to management until 1947.
The triad of images in the temple are of Jagannatha, personifying Lord Krishna, Balabhadra, his older brother, and Subhadra his younger sister, which are made of wood (neem) in an unfinished form. The stumps of wood which form the images of the brothers have human arms and that of Subhadra does not have any arms. The heads are large and un-carved and are painted. The faces are made distinct with the large circular shaped eyes.
THE PANCHA TIRTHA OF PURI
Hindus consider it essential to bathe in the Pancha Tirtha or the five sacred bathing spots of Puri, India, to complete a pilgrimage to Puri. The five sacred water bodies are the Indradyumana Tank, the Rohini Kunda, the Markandeya Tank, Swetaganga Tank, and the The Sea also called the Mahodadhi is considered a sacred bathing spot in the Swargadwar area. These tanks have perennial sources of supply in the form of rain water and ground water.
GUNDICHA TEMPLE
Known as the Garden House of Jagannath, the Gundicha temple stands in the centre of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. It lies at a distance of about 3 kilometres to the north east of the Jagannath Temple. The two temples are located at the two ends of the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue) which is the pathway for the Rath Yatra. According to a legend, Gundicha was the wife of King Indradyumna who originally built the Jagannath temple.
The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture in the Deula style. The complex comprises four components: vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage. The temple is set within a garden, and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or garden house of Jagannath. The entire complex, including garden, is surrounded by a wall which measures 131 m × 98 m with height of 6.1 m.
Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when triad images are worshipped in Gundicha Temple, the rest of the year it remains unoccupied. Tourists can visit the temple after paying an entry fee. Foreigners (prohibited entry in the main temple) are allowed inside this temple during this period. The temple is under the Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri – the governing body of the main temple. A small band of servitors maintain the temple.
SWARGADWAR
Swargadwar is the name given to the cremation ground or burning ghat which is located on the shores of the sea were thousands of dead bodies of Hindus are brought from faraway places to cremate. It is a belief that the Chitanya Mahaparabhu disppaeread from this Swargadwar about 500 years back.
BEACH
The beach at Puri known as the "Ballighai beach} is 8 km away at the mouth of Nunai River from the town and is fringed by casurian trees. It has golden yellow sand and has pleasant sunshine. Sunrise and sunset are pleasant scenic attractions here. Waves break in at the beach which is long and wide.
DISTRICT MUSEUM
The Puri district museum is located on the station road where the exhibits are of different types of garments worn by Lord Jagannath, local sculptures, patachitra (traditional, cloth-based scroll painting) and ancient Palm-leaf manuscripts and local craft work.
RAGHUNANDANA LIBRARY
Raghunandana Library is located in the Emmra matha complex (opposite Simhadwara or Lion gate, the main entrance gate). The Jagannatha Aitihasika Gavesana Samiti (Jagannatha Historical Center) is also located here. The library contains ancient palm leaf manuscripts of Jagannatha, His cult and the history of the city. From the roof of the library one gets a picturesque view of the temple complex.
FESTIVALS OF PURI
Puri witnesses 24 festivals every year, of which 13 are major festivals. The most important of these is the Rath Yatra or the Car festival held in the month June–July which is attended by more than 1 million people.
RATH YATRA AT PURI
The Jagannath triad are usually worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri, but once during the month of Asadha (Rainy Season of Orissa, usually falling in month of June or July), they are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel 3 kilometrer to the Shri Gundicha Temple, in huge chariots (ratha), allowing the public to have darśana (Holy view). This festival is known as Rath Yatra, meaning the journey (yatra) of the chariots (ratha). The yatra starts, according to Hindu calendar Asadha Sukla Dwitiya )the second day of bright fortnight of Asadha (June–July) every year.
Historically, the ruling Ganga dynasty instituted the Rath Yatra at the completion of the great temple around 1150 AD. This festival was one of those Hindu festivals that was reported to the Western world very early. In his own account of 1321, Odoric reported how the people put the "idols" on chariots, and the King and Queen and all the people drew them from the "church" with song and music.
The Rathas are huge wheeled wooden structures, which are built anew every year and are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is about 14 m high and 35 feet square and takes about 2 months to construct. Th chariot is mounted with 16 wheels, each of 2.1 m diameter. The carvings in the front of the chariot has four wooden horses drawn by Maruti. On its other three faces the wooden carvings are Rama, Surya and Vishnu. The chariot is known as Nandi Ghosha. The roof of the chariot is covered with yellow and golden coloured cloth. The next chariot is that of Balabhadra which is 13 m in height fitted with 14 wheels. The chariot is carved with Satyaki as the charioteer. The carvings on this chariot also include images of Narasimha and Rudra as Jagannath's companions. The next chariot in the order is that of Subhadra, which is 13 m in height supported on 12 wheels, roof covered in black and red colour cloth and the chariot is known as Darpa-Dalaan. The charioteer carved is Arjuna. Other images carved on the chariot are that of Vana Durga, Tara Devi and Chandi Devi. The artists and painters of Puri decorate the cars and paint flower petals and other designs on the wheels, the wood-carved charioteer and horses, and the inverted lotuses on the wall behind the throne. The huge chariots of Jagannath pulled during Rath Yatra is the etymological origin of the English word Juggernaut. The Ratha-Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra and Ghosha yatra
CHHERA PAHARA
The Chhera Pahara is a significant ritual associated with the Ratha-Yatra. During the festival, the Gajapati King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (sweeping with water) ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the Gajapati King has been considered the most exalted person in the Kalingan kingdom, he still renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual signified that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the most humble devotee.
CHADAN YATRA
In Akshaya Tritiya every year the Chandan Yatra festival marks the commencement of the construction of the Chariots of the Rath Yatra. It also marks the celebration of the Hindu new year.
SNANA YATRA
On the Purnima day in the month of Jyestha (June) the triad images of the Jagannath temple are ceremonially bathed and decorated every year on the occasion of Snana Yatra. Water for the bath is taken in 108 pots from the Suna kuan (meaning: "golden well") located near the northern gate of the temple. Water is drawn from this well only once in a year for the sole purpose of this religious bath of the deities. After the bath the triad images are dressed in the fashion of the elephant god, Ganesha. Later during the night the original triad images are taken out in a procession back to the main temple but kept at a place known as Anasara pindi. After this the Jhulana Yatra is when proxy images of the deities are taken out in a grand procession for 21 days, cruised over boats in the Narmada tank.
ANAVASARA OR ANASARA
Anasara literally means vacation. Every year, the triad images without the Sudarshan after the holy Snana Yatra are taken to a secret altar named Anavasara Ghar Palso known as "Anasara pindi} where they remain for the next dark fortnight (Krishna paksha). Hence devotees are not allowed to view them. Instead of this devotees go to nearby place Brahmagiri to see their beloved lord in the form of four handed form Alarnath a form of Vishnu. Then people get the first glimpse of lord on the day before Rath Yatra, which is called Navayouvana. It is said that the gods suffer from fever after taking ritual detailed bath and they are treated by the special servants named, Daitapatis for 15 days. Daitapatis perform special niti (rite) known as Netrotchhaba (a rite of painting the eyes of the triad). During this period cooked food is not offered to the deities.
NAVA KALEVARA
One of the most grandiloquent events associated with the Lord Jagannath, Naba Kalabera takes place when one lunar month of Ashadha is followed by another lunar month of Aashadha, called Adhika Masa (extra month). This can take place in 8, 12 or even 18 years. Literally meaning the "New Body" (Nava = New, Kalevar = Body), the festival is witnessed by as millions of people and the budget for this event exceeds $500,000. The event involves installation of new images in the temple and burial of the old ones in the temple premises at Koili Vaikuntha. The idols that were worshipped in the temple, installed in the year 1996, were replaced by specially made new images made of neem wood during Nabakalebara 2015 ceremony held during July 2015. More than 3 million devotees were expected to visit the temple during the Nabakalebara 2015 held in July.
SUNA BESHA
Suna Bhesha also known as Raja or Rajadhiraja bhesha or Raja Bhesha, is an event when the triad images of the Jagannath Temple are adorned with gold jewelry. This event is observed 5 times during a year. It is commonly observed on Magha Purnima (January), Bahuda Ekadashi also known as Asadha Ekadashi (July), Dashahara (Vijyadashami) (October), Karthik Purnima (November), and Pousa Purnima (December). While one such Suna Bhesha event is observed on Bahuda Ekadashi during the Rath Yatra on the chariots placed at the lion's gate or the Singhdwar; the other four Bheshas' are observed inside the temple on the Ratna Singhasana (gem studded altar). On this occasion gold plates are decorated over the hands and feet of Jagannath and Balabhadra; Jagannath is also adorned with a Chakra (disc) made of gold on the right hand while a silver conch adorns the left hand. However, Balabhadra is decorated with a plough made of gold on the left hand while a golden mace adorns his right hand.
NILADRI BIJE
Celebrated on Asadha Trayodashi. It marks the end of the 12 days Ratha yatra. The large wooden images of the triad of gods are moved from the chariots and then carried to the sanctum sanctorum, swaying rhythmically, a ritual which is known as pahandi.
SAHI YATRA
Considered the world's biggest open-air theatre, the Sahi yatra is an 11 day long traditional cultural theatre festival or folk drama which begins on Ram Navami and ending in Rama avishke (Sanskrit:anointing) every year. The festival includes plays depicting various scenes from the Ramayan. The residents of various localities or Sahis are entrusted the task of performing the drama at the street corners.
TRANSPORT
Earlier when roads did not exist people walked or travelled by animal drawn vehicles or carriages along beaten tracks. Up to Calcutta travel was by riverine craft along the Ganges and then by foot or carriages to Puri. It was only during the Maratha rule that the popular Jagannath Sadak (Road) was built around 1790. The East India Company laid the rail track from Calcutta to Puri which became operational in 1898. Puri is now well connected by rail, road and air services. A broad gauge railway line of the South Eastern Railways connects with Puri and Khurda is an important Railway junction. By rail it is about 499 kilometres away from Calcutta and 468 kilometres from Vishakhapatnam. Road network includes NH 203 that links the town with Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha which is about 60 kilometres away. NH 203 B connects the town with Satapada via Brahmagiri. Marine drive which is part of NH 203 A connects Puri with Konark. The nearest airport is at Bhubaneswar, about 60 kilometres away from Puri. Puri railway station is among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
SAND ART
Sand art is a special art form that is created on the beaches of the sea coast of Puri. The art form is attributed to Balaram Das, a poet who lived in the 14th century. He started crafting the sand art forms of the triad deities of the Jagannath Temple at the Puri beach. Now sculptures in sand of various gods and famous people are created by amateur artists which are temporal in nature as they get washed away by waves. This is an art form which has gained international fame in recent years. One of the well known sand artist is Sudarshan Patnaik. He has established the Golden Sand Art Institute in 1995 at the beach to provide training to students interested in this art form.
APPLIQUE ART
Applique art work, which is a stitching based craft, unlike embroidery, which was pioneered by the Hatta Maharana of Pipili is widely used in Puri, both for decoration of the deities but also for sale. His family members are employed as darjis or tailors or sebaks by the Maharaja of Puri who prepare articles for decorating the deities in the temple for various festivals and religious ceremonies. These applique works are brightly coloured and patterned fabric in the form of canopies, umbrellas, drapery, carry bags, flags, coberings of dummy horses and cows, and other household textiles which are marketed in Puri. The cloth used are in dark colours of red, black, yellow, green, blue and turquoise blue.
CULTURE
Cultural activities, apart from religiuos festivals, held annually are: The Puri Beach Festival held between 5 and 9 November and the Shreeksherta Utsav held from 20 December to 2 January where cultural programmes include unique sand art, display of local and traditional handicrafts and food festival. In addition cultural programmes are held every Saturday for two hours on in second Saturday of the moth at the district Collector's Conference Hall near Sea Beach Polic Station. Apart from Odissi dance, Odiya music, folk dances, and cultural programmes are part of this event. Odishi dance is the cultural heritage of Puri. This dance form originated in Puri in the dances performed Devadasis (Maharis) attached to the Jagannath temple who performed dances in the Natamantapa of the temple to please the deities. Though the devadadsi practice has been discontinued, the dance form has become modern and classical and is widely popular, and many of the Odishi virtuoso artists and gurus (teachers) are from Puri.
EDUCATION
SOME OF THE EDUCATIONNAL INSTITUTIONS IN PURI
- Ghanashyama Hemalata Institute of Technology and Management
- Gangadhar Mohapatra Law College, established in 1981[84]
- Extension Unit of Regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy; Puri under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), New Delhi established in March 2006
- Sri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, established in July 1981
- The Industrial Training Institute, a Premier Technical Institution to provide education in skilled, committed & talented technicians, established in 1966 of the Government of India
PURI PEOPLE
Gopabandhu Das
Acharya Harihar
Nilakantha Das
Kelucharan Mohapatra
Pankaj Charan Das
Manasi Pradhan
Raghunath Mohapatra
Sudarshan Patnaik
Biswanath Sahinayak
Rituraj Mohanty
WIKIPEDIA
The primary objective of this visit was to photograph Line 3, which had been suspended for at least seven years due to road work until being partially restored in 2013. For the time being the section between P. Ostiense and Staz. Trastavere continues to be operated by bus even though the tracks are used daily by Line 8 cars proceeding to and from the depot.
IBM and Apple introduced currently that they experienced arrived at the a hundred app milestone in their cellular app partnership.
The a hundred applications cover the gamut of sixty expert roles throughout 14 industries and incorporate Apple iphone, iPad, iPad Pro, Apple Enjoy and even...
honestechs.com/2015/12/16/ibm-and-apple-company-partnersh...
101 Oil Studies, No. 58
Objective: Abstract
Painted in 2 sessions: 4, 7 Feb 2025
Pigments (Winsor & Newton Artists' oil colour unless otherwise noted): Indigo, burnt sienna, cerulean blue, sap green, transparent earth red (Gamblin), Winson yellow. Medium: Gamsol.
Centurion OP DLX oil primed linen, 30.5 x 40.6 cm (12 x 16 inches)
Meyer-Optik's Primotar 3.5/50mm with suitable mount(s) seems to be a little bit hard to get objective. Maybe I paid too much at Evilbay for this far-from-pristine exemplar, but time is money. too. So I didn't want to spend weeks in auctions.
Primotar is some kind of Tessar copy, I believe. The colors are, however, said to be more pleasant. Some day I'll have experiences of my own:)
Please check these now:
forum.mflenses.com/meyer-optik-goerlitz-primotar-e-50mm-f...
users.telenet.be/t642711/rev/meyerprimotare50/meyerprimot...
28mmf2.wordpress.com/tag/meyer-optik-gorlitz-primotar-e-5...
blog.bkspicture.com/review_Meyer_optik_Gorlitz_Primotar_E...
The objective of the exercise. To compare the real thing with the model bought in February. Despite reports that 37025 would either be leading (a top & tail arrangement) or be leading a double header it is, in railway terminology, the train (i.e. 2nd) as opposed to the pilot (i.e. 1st or leading) locomotive making it harder to get a clean shot of it. Apparently this was due to a lack of fuel in its tank so 116 was doing most if not all the work! The locomotive, currently on hire to Colas, belongs to the Scottish ThirtySeven Group based at Bo’ness.
We've currently got a painting competition going in our club to make objective markers. This is one that I put together as an example for the students.
I managed to build it entirely out of stuff in my bits box - so it was effectively free!
Our objective: Plant the bombs and get the hell out of there. That we did. The getting out of their part was the hard part. Our evac site was 5 floors above where the bombs were planted. Too bad I didn't have the detonator... I almost lost a whole company of soldiers planting that bomb. Shab, I lost my best friend too. He gave his life to save mine. But the rest of us pushed through. Me and 2 other troops that had come for reinforcements and 3 of my soldiers made it too the hallway leading to the evac site. Thats when we heard the call that sent a shrill down our spine. "Detention in 5...4...3...2...1 thats when we started to run. I barely got the blast door closed only holding the fury for seconds when the one thing that could go wrong did. Their was a shabla ray shield guarding our exit to the platform. Then I knew my favorite word would be put into action: "Improvise". I could see the larty taking off through the glass ceiling, i commed in and said: Pilot stay there for a couple seconds" "Roger that" I pulled out my pistol hooked the cables and said to the 2 boys behind me power your jets cause were going up...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helped Terry and Gail Small with their Animal Mortality Facility, In-Vessel Composter that disposes of daily poultry mortality; a process that produces a pathogen free compost product that can then be applied to the land according to the nutrient management plan, Hector AR, on June 26, 2019. The purpose of this composters is to reduce the impact of pollution on surface and groundwater and reduce odor. Even in the event of a power outage, the process continues in the safety of its large long horizontal plastic container. The ingredients are simple, for every bucket of chicken, in goes a bucket of wood shavings.
Inside, an internal drum with spiral blades rotates very slowly mixing, moving and aerating the mixture. The natural process brings the interior temperature to120-125 degrees Fahrenheit. At the end, the compost is slowly expelled -- ready to use. The producer is then able to use it in fields or sell it.
The Smalls work with NRCS District Conservationist Joe Tapp and Agricultural Engineer Britt Hill on their conservation plan that includes this mortality facility.
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NRCS has a proud history of supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. For more than 80 years, we have helped people make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat.
As the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, we generate, manage, and share the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science.
And through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, we help ensure the health of our natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.
Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) is the Department’s focal point for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and other stewards of private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurance services, conservation programs and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs.
The agencies and service supporting FPAC are Farm Service Agency (FSA), NRCS, and Risk Management Agency (RMA).
For more information please see www.usda.gov.
USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Photographs in this collection have been produced by Alison Lowrie, Heather Do, Liz Dolinar, and Adriana Haro at request of Michael Ashley for the UC Berkeley Anthropology 136e class, Spring 2011. The purpose was to digitally document the cultural heritage of Green Gulch Zen Center with the objective of gaining better insight into the Zen Center's cultural history through the use of photographic technology.
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center (Latitude 37.86657, Longitude -122.56528), also referred to as the Green Dragon Temple, is located in Marin County, CA in a beautiful coastal valley overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Green Gulch, approximately a 10 mile drive north of San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, is located on 115 acres surrounded by hundreds of acres of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Green Gulch is a cultural heritage site constituting of one of the three centers that form the San Francisco Zen Center founded by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi [1]. In 1972, Green Gulch was purchased from George Wheelwright, co-founder of Polaroid, as a part of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's vision to obtain a farm near the San Francisco Bay area where a community of Zen Buddhist practitioners could communally live and practice in accompany of one another [2] [3]. Part of the Wheelwright's stipulation of the sale to the San Francisco Zen Center was that the farm must forever remain open to the public, as well as partake in agricultural awareness [4]. Green Gulch now serves as a Buddhist practice center in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition, were their endeavor is to awaken the people residing, working, and visiting the center in the bodhisattva spirit-the spirit of kindness and realistic helpfulness [1]. Green Gulch is compromised of a temple (the Zendo), organic farm and garden, guesthouse, and conference center. The center offers training and practice in Zen mediation through workshops and retreats, as well as apprenticeships emphasizing meditation practice, Buddhist teachings, and organic gardening and farming methods [5].
Photographs in this collection were captured on Sunday April 24, 2011, between 11:30 AM and 2:15 PM Pacific Time, under sunny conditions. Nixon D80 and two-Canon XSI cameras were used. A tripod was used for HDR shots. The photos were post-processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.
Description written by Adriana Haro, following Alonso C. Addison’s proposed virtual heritage metadata format in his chapter "The Vanishing Virtual" in New Heritage: New Media and Cultural Heritage, edited by Kalay, et al., and published by Routledge in 2007.
All photos Copyright ©2011 Center for Digital Archaeology, Berkeley CA Creative Commons creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
For more information contact Center for Digital Archaeology, Berkeley, CA, 94720 or visit www.codifi.info/licensing
Further information about Green Gulch Zen Center can be found at www.sfzc.org/ggf/
[1] www.sfzc.org/ggf/display.asp?catid=3&pageid=484
[2] Oda, Mayumi (2002). I Opened the Gate, Laughing: an Inner Journey. Chronicle Books.
[3] Richmond, Ivan. Silence and Noise: Growing Up Zen in America. Simon and Schuster.
[4] McCormick, Kathleen (2000). The Garden Lover's Guide to the West. Princeton Architectural Press.
PAGASARRI: Bilboko birika.
Pagasarri Bilboko mendirik ospetsuena da, eta jende askorentzat hiribilduko ikurrik garrantzitsuena da, itsasadarrarekin, Alde Zaharrarekin, San Mamesekin edo BegoÒako basilikarekin batera. Izan ere, 671 metroko altuerarekin, Pagasarrik Bilboren hazkundea ikusi du, eta pertsona asko gaztetarik elikatu dute mendizaletasuna, mendi horren inguruetan korrika eta olgeta eginez. Zaletu kopuru handia dauka, adin guztietako bisitariak, eta horiek egunero joaten dira inguru horretara, hiriaren erritmo bizkorretik babesteko leku egoki baten bila.
Pagasarri mendia Ganekogorta mendilerroaren barruan dago, eta hori mila metroko altueran altxatzen da Bilboko metropoliaren gainean; gainera, Bizkaiko eta Arabako lurraldeen mugan dago. Ipar-mendebaldean Kadagua ibaia dauka, eta hego-ekialdean Nerbioi ibaia, eta bertako maldak Bilbo, Alonsotegi eta Arrigorriaga udalerrien artean banaturik daude.
Etimologiak mendi horren jatorrizko itxura adierazten du. Pagasarrik bi elementu ditu: Paga edo pagoa eta sarri edo trinkoa. Beraz, Antzina Pagasarri pago geruza trinko batez estalita zegoen.
HISTORIA APUR BAT
1300. urtean, Diego Lopez de Harok sinaturiko Bilboko Herri Gutunean mendi hori aipatzen zen, Bilboren mugatzat, eta orduan Fagasarri esaten zioten.
Horren historia Euskal Herriko beste mendi askoren historia bezalakoa da, hariztiz, pagadiz eta artadiz betea; egurra, fruituak eta ehiza eskaini zizkien lehenengo biztanleei. Aztarna arkeologiko batzuk aurkitu dira (lurrazalean aurkituriko silexezko harriak) eta horiek aditzera ematen dute Brontze Aroan artzaintza jarduera hasi zela inguru horretan. Brontze Aroko artzainak abere taldeekin igotzen ziren, mendilerroko larredi aberatsetan bazkan egitera.
Hasieran artzaintza izan zen, gero siderurgia eta itsas industriaren goraldia, eta horrek, XVII. eta XVIII. mendeetan zur-eskari handia sortu zuen, Bizkaiko basoen suspertze-gaitasuna gainditu zuen eskaria. 1610. eta 1630. urteetan, Zorrozako Arsenal izenekoak gerrarako 40 galeoi baino gehiago eraiki zuen, eta horretarako, itsasontzi bakoitzeko 6.000 haritz baino gehiago moztu behar izan zen. Azkenik, Pagasarrik Karlistadetan jasandako suteek mendi horren baso-aberastasuna amaitu zuten.
XIX. mendean, Pagasarrik itxura ikaragarria zeukan, eta basomasa guztia galduta zuen. Tokiko agintarien kontzientziari eta herri ekimenari esker, mendi horrek apurka-apurka bere aberastasun naturalaren zati bat berreskuratu du.
HOZKAILUAK ETA TARIN ITURRIA
Pagasarriko zelaietara iritsitakoan, eskuinetara jaitsita (Ganetaren malden behealdetik), hozkailuak eta Tarin iturria aurkituko ditugu.
Pagasarriko hozkailuak XVII. mendekoak dira, Bizkaian elurra merkaturatzen hasi zen garaikoak. Hozkailuak lurpeko eraikuntza zilindrikoak ziren; neguan eroritako elurra biltzeko eta kontserbatzeko erabiltzen ziren, elur hori urteko hilabeterik beroenetan erabili ahal izateko. Elurra zapaldu egiten zen, trinkotzeko, eta belarrez, lastoz edo iratzez bananduriko geruzetan biltzen zen. Sorturiko izotza bloketan ebaki eta kontsumoko lekuetara garraiatzen zen, gaueko freskuratan. Medikuntzan erabiltzen zen, sukarrak arintzeko, eta analgesikotzat ere erabiltzen zuten. Halaber, edari freskagarriak eta izozki gozoak egiteko ere oso estimaturik zegoen.
Hozkailuen azpian, Tarin iturria dago; Udoi iturburuaren ondoan bildutako mendizale talde batek inauguratu zuen 1914. urtean; eraikuntzaren gastuak ordaintzeko, harpidedunei tarin bat (garaiko erreal bat) kobratzea erabaki zuten.
HAITZEKO AZTARNAK
Pagasarriren gailurrean, haitzek lapiazez, arrakalaz, dolinaz, haitzuloz eta hormaz beteriko paisaia menperatzen dute, eta horien artean belar-geruza emankorra dago; horrek guztiak, berriz, paisaia erakargarria eta berezia sortzen du.
Lapiazaren aurrean, haitzaren azaleran egitura zimurra eta irregularra ikusten da, eta bertan koralen eta errudisten aztarna fosil asko dago; horrek aditzera ematen du inguru hori antzina urpean egon zela.
Antzina-antzina, orain dela 120 milioi urte baino gehiago, itsaso epel eta sakonera nahiko txikiko batek estaltzen zituen lur horiek. Ur horietan, koralezko arrezife handiak garatu ziren eta horiexek sortu dituzte inguruko mendietariko asko.
Gero, Orogenia Alpetarrean (garrantzi handiko aldi geologikoa, geure paisaiaren formei dagokienez), urpeko arro sedimen tarioa apurka-apurka altxatzen hasi zen.
Horrela, Bilboko antiklinorioko mendiak eta Ganekogorta mendilerroa sortu ziren, eta horren barruan Pagasarri dago. Material horiek azaleratu ondoren, higadura-prozesuen efektuak nabaritu ziren berriro, eta azkenean, oraingo erliebea sortu zen.
IBILBIDEA
Pagasarrirako igoera alde guztieta tik egiten duten ibilbide asko dago, inguruko udalerrietatik abiatuta. Bilboko hiriburuko Zabalburu plazan hasten den bidea aukeratu dugu, berori baita Pagasarrirako ibilbiderik klasikoena eta erabiliena.
Zabalburu plazatik hasita, Juan de Garai kaletik San Adrianerantz igoko gara. Auzo ospetsu hori behean utzita, autobidearen gaineko zubi bat zehar katuko dugu. Iberdrolaren eraikina inguratu eta ezkerretara egingo dugu bira, "Pagasarrirako Bidea" deritzonaren ondotik, Garbigunearen albotik igarota.
Bihurgune zabal baten ostean, Ikoko baserrien ondoko errepidearen al bora iritsiko gara. Apur bat gorago, errepidea utziko dugu hormigoizko bide batetik; bide horrek, malda gogo rrean, Bentabarri baserriraino eraman go gaitu; baserri hori duen zelai ederrean, auzoko jaiak eta erromeriak ospatzen dira.
Gorantz jarraituko dugu, errepidetik, Arnotegiko malden azpitik, Athletic tabernaren eta Igertuko baserrien ondotik igarota, eta bertan, Buiatik eta Bolintxu errekaren haranetik gorantz doan bidearekin bat egingo dugu. Bertan lehen presa bat zegoen, baina 1983ko uholdeek hondatu egin zuten; presa hori oso ospetsua da Bilboko gazteen artean, udako egun sargoritsuetan bertara joaten baitira bainua hartzera.
Aldapa txiki bat igo ondoren, ibilgailuen bidea ixten duen hesira iritsiko gara, eta bertatik Pagasarriko maldetan sartzen da. Ezkerretara dagoen asfaltozko estrata batek San Roqueren baselizara hurbilduko gaitu, paisaia bukolikoan kokaturiko baselizara; inguruan, Uzkortaren kare-harrizko haitzak daude eta, bertan, baso autoktono ugaria dago: lizarrak, haritzak, haltzak, astigarrak, gaztainondoak eta arteak. Baso horiek, berriz, malda horietan antzina zegoen basoko aberastasunaren aztarnak dira.
Herri tradizioak dioenez, 1575. urtean kolera izurri ikaragarri batek Bilboko biztanleria jota utzi zuen.
Biztanleak, ikaratuta, Pagasarrin San Roqueren omenezko baseliza eraikitzea erabaki zuten, santu hori izurridunen zaindaria baita. Santua erromerian igo zen bertara, eta, garaiko kronikek diotenez, santua eskuzabala izan zen, handik gutxira izurria amaitu egin baitzen.
Hesira itzuli eta legarrezko bide zabal batetik gorantz egingo dugu, harik eta hiru bide desberdin dituen bihurgunera iritsi arte: ezkerretarako bidea basoaren barrutik lau-lau doa, Pastorekorta mendi-lepora iritsi arte, eta bertatik Pagasarrira igotzen da, gailurrerako muinotik; aurrealdean antzinako bidea daukagu, ederrena baina gogorrena; eta, azkenik, eskuinetara, Arraizko bidearekin bat eginez gorantz doan legarrezko bide zabala dago. Bide horietariko edozein hartuta, Pagasarriren zelaietara iritsiko gara, ordubete eta erdian edo ordu bitan, bakoitzaren ahalmenaren arabera.
Ezkerretara aterpea dago eta bertan atsedena nahiz ondo merezitako mokadua har daiteke. Jatorrizko eraikina Bilboko Udalak eraiki zuen, 1914an, Kirol Klubak eskatuta; urte horietan bizitza osasuntsua, naturismoa eta mendiko aire osasuntsuak sustatu ziren. Urte askotan, Francisca Intxausti andreak gobernatu zuen, eta horri Paca esaten zioten; horrenbestez, oraindik ere askok "La Paca" taberna esaten dio.
Zelaien leuntasuna eta karstaren fisonomia malkartsua tartekatzen dituen igoera labur batean, gailurrera hurbilduko gara, Bilboko metropoli zalapartatsuaren eta Abraren bokalearen gaineko begiratoki bikaina da.
Aterpetik, ausartenek aurrera egin dezakete "bitarteko zelaira" doan bidetik; bertan banatu egiten dira Zollorako, Laudioko Santa Luciarako nahiz Aretarako bideak (Espino deritzon iturritik), Ganekogorta mitikorako igoera gogorretik.
PAGASARRI: el pulmón de BilbaoVolver
El Pagasarri es la montaña más popular de Bilbao y para mucha gente uno de los símbolos más importantes de la Villa, junto con la Ría, el Casco Viejo, San Mamés o la Basílica de Begoña. Y es que el Pagasarri desde sus 671 metros de altura ha visto crecer Bilbao desde su más tierna infancia y son muchas las personas que en su juventud han alimentado la afición a la montaña correteando y jugando en sus estribaciones. Cuenta con una gran cantidad de incondicionales, visitantes de todas las edades que diariamente se acercan a estos bucólicos parajes en busca de un oasis natural donde refugiarse del bullicioso ritmo de la ciudad.
El monte Pagasarri forma parte del macizo de Ganekogorta, una altiva montaña que se eleva hasta los mil metros sobre la metrópoli bilbaína, limitando los territorios de Bizkaia y Araba. Enmarcado por los ríos Kadagua al noroeste y Nervión al sureste, reparte sus laderas entre los municipios de Bilbao, Alonsotegi y Arrigorriaga.
La etimología nos habla del aspecto primigenio de esta montaña. La palabra Pagasarri cuenta con dos elementos diferenciados: Paga / pagoa que significa haya, y sarri, tupido espeso, denso... Por lo tanto nos podemos imaginar el Pagasarri cubierto por un denso manto de hayas.
UN POCO DE HISTORIA
Ya en 1300 la Carta Puebla de Bilbao, firmada por Don Diego López de Haro se refería a esta montaña para delimitar Bilbao, con el nombre de Fagasarri.
Su historia se asemeja a la de muchos otros montes de Euskal Herria, cubierta de bosques de robles, hayas y encinas, abasteció de leña, frutos y caza a sus primeras poblaciones. Se han encontrado algunos restos arqueológicos (lascas de sílex hayadas en superficie) que indican que en la edad de bronce se inició la actividad pastoril en la zona. Pastores de la edad de bronce que subían sus rebaños a alimentarse en los ricos pastos del macizo.
Primero fue el pastoreo, más tarde el desarrollo de la siderurgia y auge de la industria naval que entre los siglos XVII y XVIII generó una gran demanda de madera desbordando la capacidad de regeneración de los bosques de Bizkaia. Recordemos que entre los años 1610 y 1630 el Arsenal de Zorroza construyo más de 40 galeones de guerra que obligaron a talar 6.000 robles por barco. Por último, los incendios que tuvo que soportar el Pagasarri durante las Guerras Carlistas acabaron con la riqueza forestal de esta montaña.
En el siglo XIX el Pagasarri ofrecía un aspecto desolador habiendo perdido toda su masa forestal. La conciencia de las autoridades locales y la iniciativa popular han conseguido que poco a poco esta montaña vaya recuperando parte de su riqueza natural.
LAS NEVERAS Y LA FUENTE DE TARÍN
Según llegamos a las campas del Pagasarri y descendiendo a mano derecha, bajo las laderas del Ganeta encontramos las neveras y la fuente del Tarín.
Las neveras del Pagasarri datan del siglo XVII, época en que comenzó la comercialización de la nieve en Bizkaia. Las neveras eran edificaciones subterráneas de forma cilíndrica, que tenían por objeto el almacenamiento y conservación de la nieve caída durante el invierno para su utilización en los meses más cálidos del año. La nieve se pisaba para compactarla, almacenándola en capas, separadas por hierba, paja o helechos. El hielo formado se cortaba en bloques y se transportaba a los lugares de consumo aprovechando el fresco de la noche. Se utilizaba en medicina para aliviar los estados febriles, o como analgésico. También era muy apreciado en la elaboración de bebidas refrescantes y deliciosos helados.
Debajo de las neveras encontramos la fuente del Tarín que fue inaugurada en 1914 por un grupo de montañeros y montañeras que congregados junto al manantial de Udoi, decidieron sufragar los gastos de su construcción mediante el cobro de un Tarín (un real de la época) a las personas suscriptoras.
HUELLAS EN LA ROCA
En la cumbre del Pagasarri el roquedo domina un intrincado paisaje de lapiazes, grietas, dolinas, cuevas y paredes entre los que se intercala un fértil manto de hierba, creando un paisaje atractivo y singular.
Si nos encaramamos al lapiaz, observaremos en la superficie de la roca una estructura rugosa e irregular en la que abundan las huellas fósiles de corales y rudistas que nos hablan de un remoto pasado bajo las aguas.
Nos tenemos que remontar muy lejos en el tiempo, hace más de 120 millones de años, cuando un mar cálido y relativamente poco profundo, cubría estos suelos que ahora pisamos. En esas aguas someras se desarrollaban los grandes arrecifes coralinos que han dado origen a muchas de las montañas de nuestro entorno.
Posteriormente y durante la Orogenia Alpina, un período geológico de gran importancia en las formas de nuestro paisaje, se inició un levantamiento lento e inexorable de la cuenca sedimentaria que yacía bajo las aguas. Surgieron así las masas montañosas del anticlinorio de Bilbao y macizo de Ganekogorta, dentro del cual se encuentra el Pagasarri.
Una vez que estos materiales empezaron a aflorar en superficie, volvieron a sufrir los efectos de los procesos erosivos. que terminaron por configurar el relieve tal y como hoy lo conocemos.
ITINERARIO
Existen multitud de rutas que, partiendo de los municipios limítrofes, abordan el ascenso al Pagasarri por todos sus flancos. Hemos elegido la ruta que comienza en plaza de Zabalburu de la capital vizcaína, por ser éste el itinerario más clásico y el más utilizado en la ascensión.
Desde la misma plaza de Zabalburu ascendemos por la calle Juan de Garay hacia San Adrián. Dejamos abajo este popular barrio, cruzando un puente sobre la autopista. Contorneamos el edificio de Iberdrola y giramos a la izquierda por el “Camino del Pagasarri” pasando junto al Garbigune.
Tras una amplia revuelta, llegamos a la carretera junto a los caseríos de Iko. Un poco más arriba volvemos a abandonar la carretera por una pista hormigonada, que en fuerte pendiente nos lleva hasta el caserío Bentabarri, ubicado en una hermosa campa donde se celebran las fiestas y romerías del barrio.
Continuamos ascendiendo, ahora por carretera, bajo las laderas de Arnotegi, pasando junto al bar Athletic y los caseríos de Igertu donde confluimos con el camino que asciende desde Buia por el valle del arroyo Bolintxu. Allí existía una presa, arrasada por las inundaciones de 1983, muy popular entre la chavalería bilbaína que en los calurosos días del estío se acercaba a darse un chapuzón.
Un pequeño repecho y alcanzamos la barrera que cierra el paso de vehículos hacia las laderas del Pagasarri. Por la izquierda una estrada asfaltada nos acerca a la ermita de San Roque, asentada en un bucólico paraje, enmarcado por las peñas calizas de Uzkorta donde abunda un variado bosque autóctono de fresnos, robles, alisos, arces, castaños y encinas. Estos bosques son el testimonio residual de la antigua riqueza forestal que cubría estas laderas.
Cuenta la tradición popular que en el año 1575, una terrible epidemia de cólera azotaba a la población bilbaína.
La población asustada decidió eregir una ermita en el Pagasarri bajo la advocación de San Roke, patrono de los apestados. Se subió al santo en romería y parece ser, según cuentan las crónicas de la época, que el santo fue diligente pues pronto la epidemia de peste remitió.
Volvemos a la barrera y ascendemos por la ancha pista de grava hasta una curva de la que salen tres pistas: Una a la izquierda, llanea por el interior del bosque hasta el collado de Pastorekorta y de allí sube al Pagasarri por el cordal cimero; enfrente tenemos el camino antiguo, el más bello pero también el más exigente; y por último, a la derecha continua la ancha pista de grava que asciende juntándose al camino de Arraiz. Por cualquiera de estos caminos alcanzaremos las campas de Pagasarri en aproximadamente hora y media o dos horas, según el paso de cada quien.
A la izquierda, queda el refugio donde podemos sentarnos a descansar y tomar un merecido refrigerio. El edificio original fue edificado por el Ayuntamiento de Bilbao en 1914 a petición del Club Deportivo, años en que se potenció la vida sana, el naturismo y los saludables aires de la montaña. Durante muchos años fue regentado por Doña Francisca Intxausti, llamada popularmente Paca por lo que mucha gente lo sigue llamando el bar de “La Paca”.
En una corta ascensión que alterna la dulzura de las campas y la agreste fisonomía del karst, podemos acercarnos hasta la cima, un magnífico balcón sobre la bulliciosa metrópoli bilbaína y la desembocadura del Abra.
Desde el refugio, los y las más montaraces pueden continuar la ruta por la pista que enfila hacia la “campa de enmedio” donde se separan las rutas hacia Zollo, Santa Lucia de Llodio y Areta por la fuente del Espino, y la exigente ascensión al mítico Ganekogorta.
PAGASARRI: the lung of BilbaoBack
The Pagasarri is the most popular mountain in Bilbao and for many people, one of the most important symbols of the city, together with the Estuary, the “Casco Viejo” (Old Quarters), San Mamés or the Basilica of Begoña. The fact is that the Pagasarri, from its 671 metres of height, has witnessed the development of Bilbao from its tender childhood and many people have fostered their fondness for the mountain by running around and playing around the foot of the mountain. It has a lot of faithful visitors of all ages, who go there every day seeking a natural oasis where they can take refuge from the hubbub of the city.
The Pagasarri mountain forms part of the mountain mass of Ganekogorta, a haughty mountain that rises a thousand metres over the city of Bilbao, bordering the territories of Bizkaia and Araba. Framed by the rivers Kadagua to the northeast and the Nervión estuary to the southeast, its slopes spread along the municipalities of Bilbao, Alonsotegi and Arrigorriaga.
Ethymology describes the original appearance of this mountain. The word “Pagasarri” has two differentiated elements, namely: “Paga / pagoa”, which means beech tree and “sarri”, which means thickly dense, dense, etc. Therefore, we can picture the Pagasarri as being covered by a dense layer of beeches.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
By 1300, the “Carta Puebla” of Bilbao, or Charter of Foundation of Bilbao, signed by Don Diego López de Haro, referred to this mountain that delimited Bilbao, as “Fagasarri”.
Its history is very similar to that of other mountains in the Basque Country, covered in oak woods, beech trees and holm oaks, providing wood, fruit and game to its first inhabitants. Some archaeological remains have been discovered (sylex stone chips on the surface of the same), which indicate that shepherding activities commenced during the Bronze age. Shepherds from the Bronze Age who took their herds to graze in the rich pastures of the mountain mass.
First it was shepherding, then the development of the iron and steel industry and the naval industry boom that during the 17th and 18th centuries generated a great demand for wood, exceeding the regeneration capacity of the forests of Bizkaia. One should bear in mind that between the years 1610 and 1630, the Naval Dockyard of Zorroza built over 40 war galleons, which entailed the felling of 6,000 oaks per vessel. The fires that the Pagasarri had to endure during the Carlist Wars finally depleted the forest wealth provided by this mountain.
The Pagasarri was absolutely desolate in the 19th century, having lost all its forest mass. Helped by the concern of local authorities and popular initiative, this mountain is slowly recovering part of its natural wealth.
TARIN’S ICE-BOXES AND FOUNTAIN
As we approach the fields of the Pagasarri and, descending to the right, we will come across Tarin’s ice-boxes and fountain.
The ice-boxes of the Pagasarri date back to the 17th century, when ice began to be marketed in Bizkaia. These ice-boxes were underground cylindrical-shaped constructions whose objective was the storage and conservation of the snowfall from the winter, to be used during the hottest months of the year. Snow was compacted by treading, stored and separated with layers of grass, straw or ferns. The ice that formed was cut into blocks and transported to the customers during the night, as it was cooler. This ice was used for medicinal purposes, to help with fever, or as an analgesic. It was also highly appreciated for the preparation of refreshing drinks and delicious ice-creams.
Under the ice-boxes lies the fountain of Tarin, which was inaugurated in 1914 by a group of mountaineers who were gathered around the spring of Udoi, and decided to defray the expenses derived from the cost of construction by charging one “Tarín” (a coin worth 25 cents of the old pesetas) to subscribers.
TRACES ON THE ROCK
The rocky area on the summit of the Pagasarri dominates an intricate landscape of crevasses caused by erosion, cracks, sinkholes, caves and walls, with a fertile layer of grass lying between them, creating an attractive and singular landscape.
Facing the crevasses, the surface of the rock has an irregular and rough structure with an abundant trace of coral fossils and rudistas that speak of a remote past under the waters.
One needs to trace history way back over 120 million years, when a warm and relatively shallow sea covered the land we are now standing on. Large coral reefs developed in those superficial waters, which have now become many of the mountains in our surroundings.
Subsequently, and during the Alpine Orogeny, a highly relevant geological period that shaped our landscape, a slow and inexorable moulding of the sedimentary basin that lay under the waters, began. The mountainous masses of the anticlinorium of Bilbao and the massif of Ganekogorta, where the Pagasarri stands.
When these materials began to come to the surface, the erosive processes returned and finally shaped the relief as it appears today.
ITINERARY
There are a multitude of routes that leave from the bordering municipalities, offering a route of ascent to the Pagasarri from all flanks. We have opted for the route that begins at the Zabalburu square of the capital of Bizkaia, this being the most classical itinerary and one which is most widely used for the ascent.
From the square of Zabalburu itself, take the Juan de Garay street as it ascends towards San Adrián. Leaving this popular district behind, cross the bridge over the motorway. Go around the building of Iberdrola and turn left through the “Camino del Pagasarri”, going past the Garbigune (waste disposal bins for recycling).
After a deep turn, one gets to the road next to the farmhouses of Iko. A bit further up, we leave the road once more and walk on a concrete track that steeply rises to the farmhouse of Bentabarri, located on a beautiful meadow where the district fiestas and pilgrimages are held.
Continue uphill, now on the road, under the slopes of the Arnotegi mountain, going past a bar called Athletic and the farmhouses of Igerty, where this road will meet the track that rises from Buia through the valley of the Bolintxu stream. There used to be a dam there, which was destroyed by the landslides of 1983; it used to be very popular amongst the young people of Bilbao, who used to go there for a swim during the hot summer days.
After a short steep slope, we reach the barrier that hinders traffic from going to the slopes of the Pagasarri. To the left, a concrete platform brings us to the hermitage of San Roque, located in a bucolic spot, framed by the limy crags of Uzkorta, where there is an abundant autochthonous forest of ash trees, oaks, alders, maple trees, chestnut trees and holm oaks. These forests are the residual testimony of the old forest density that covered these slopes.
According to popular saying, a terrible cholera epidemic hit the population of Bilbao.
The alarmed population decided to erect a hermitage in the Pagasarri, dedicated to St. Roke, patron of plague sufferers. The saint was taken there in pilgrimage and it seems, according to the chronicles of the time, that the saint was diligent because the plague soon subsided.
We return to the barrier and climb through the wide gravel track until we get to a bend where three tracks fork out: One to the left, which goes into the woods up to the hillock of Pastorekorta and from there, it ascends to the Pagasarri through the hill range on the summit; the old path is in front and, albeit it is the most beautiful, it also happens to be the most demanding; finally, the wide gravel track continues to the right, going up until it meets with the path to Arraiz. All of these routes lead to the open fields of the Pagasarri and will take between one and a half, to two hours, depending on your stride.
The refuge stands to the left, where one can sit and rest and enjoy a well deserved snack or drink. The original building was constructed by the Town Hall of Bilbao in 1914 – a healthy life, naturism and the healthy mountain air were fostered in those days. For many years, this was run by Doña Francisca Intxausti, popularly known as “Paca” and this is the reason why people today still call it “Paca’s” bar.
In a short climb where a varied landscape offers the gentleness of the open fields and the rural physiognomy of the karst, we reach the summit, a magnificent balcony over the hubbub of Bilbao and the mouth of the Abra.
From the refuge, mountain fans can continue to climb the track that leads to the “campa de enmedio” (field in the middle), where the tracks divide and spread towards Zollo, Zanta Lucía de Llodio and Areta through the Espino fountain and the demanding climb to the mythical Ganekogorta.
On 12 October 1917, an offensive by New Zealanders at Passchendaele (Flanders, Belgium) cost the lives of 845 men, and left more than 2700 wounded. As nzhistory.govt.nz notes, in terms of lives lost on a single day, it was the greatest disaster in New Zealand history.
Archives New Zealand Reference: WA 76 5/1
More on the Battle of Passchendaele can be found at www.nzhistory.net.nz/845-nz-soldiers-die-in-botched-attac...
Material from Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
The left objective prism plate is marked NPL15 certifying the binocular was inspected and approved by the National Physical Laboratory in 1915 whose responsibility it was to test and ensure the quality of Admiralty (but not Army) instruments. Although the binocular’s serial number indicates manufacture circa 1909, the NPL15 marking indicates the binocular was purchased by the government from a dealer’s unsold inventory about 1915 (if it were a donated binocular it would have been marked with an S which it is not).
Also, note the closely spaced objective lenses.
Objectively viewed – the world through my lens
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objectivity: judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices.