Docufilm To Preserve & Popularise Puri’s ‘Sahi Jata’

Bhubaneswar:  While the sound of conch shell reverberates through the streets of Puri, a grand procession of people clad in myriad hues, beating drums and blowing trumpets, celebrate the popular spring carnival and folk art – ‘Sahi Jata’.

Decorated elephants, horses, flag bearers are also a part of the processions. Believed to have started back in 1230 AD, it involves street shows of wrestling, acrobats, war techniques like handling the swords, stick and other weapons.

This festival, however, limited only to the Sahis or particular streets near Jagannath Temple in Puri, is on the verge of extinction. To popularize and preserve this ancient art form of Odisha, Puri-based filmmaker, Ashutosh Pattanaik, has come up with a docufilm ‘Sreekhetra Ru Sahijata’.

“I wanted to make a documentary on Ramleela and suddenly realized that ‘Sahi Jata’, which creates a lot of buzz every year during Ram Navami is something that needs spotlight. Since Puri is my native place, I was well-aware of the folk tradition,” said Ashutosh, who has also worked in Shibu Prustry’s national award winning film ‘The Lord of the Universe’ as the cameraman.

The teaser of the film was digitally released recently.

While sharing his experience, Ashutosh said he shot for 10-13 days continuously.  “The authenticity of the music has been kept alive while preparing the track. We, however, had to make it more appealing. The characters of Ramayana dressed in traditional costume deliver dialogues and sing songs roaming around the seven Sahis. On the last day, they perform at the Jagannath Ballav. Every Sahi prepares as per the character assigned,” he added.

The seven Sahis, which take part in ‘Sahi Jata’ every year, are Bali Sahi, Kalikadevi Sahi, Kundhei Benta Sahi, Harchandi Sahi, Goudabada Sahi, Markandeswara Sahi and Dolamandapa Sahi. This festival is organised with the meagre contribution by locals.

The 35-minute long film is still in post-production stage. Produced under the banner of Pattnaik Bros, the editing has been done by Dikshya Sinha while the cinematography is by Soumya Mohanty and sound design by Parag Kumar Behera. The poster is a manual painting made by well-known Pattachitra painter Govind Moharana.

Ashutosh wants to take this film to various festivals.

Prior to this, he had made another documentary on the life of a transgender, Meera Parida.