Kalabethia servitors were male members of a group of families who earned their livelihood as farmers. Their traditional duty or Seva is mentioned in the Shree Jagananth Temple’s Record of Rights as well as in the Orissa Gazette 1955. According to the Shree Mandir Record of Rights, there was a time when 4200 Kalabethia servitors were used during Rathyatra.
Descendants of these families still reside in Kakatpur, Nimapara, Konark, Khordha, Delang, Kanas and Brahmagiri areas of Puri district. Gajapati royals had provided rent free land to Kalabethia families for cultivation. They still use the land. But they lament that they are no more able to serve the Lord of Universe during Rathyatra like their forefathers.
Kalabethia servitors used to reach Puri during Rathyatra to pull the chariots. Decades back the Badadanda or Grand Road of Puri was not what we witness now. The massive chariots had to be pulled on the unpaved Grand Road. Chariots got stuck in mud and sand. The number of devotees visiting Puri during Rathyatra was also less in comparison to present days.
Pulling the chariots during Shree Gundicha, Bahuda and Dakshina Moda was not an easy task. Chariots could not reach their destination on prescribed days. Kalabethia sevayats were the ones who came to the rescue at that time. It was their duty to reach Puri during Rathyatra to pull the chariots. They did not offer this service for any monetary gains. As per temple records, they received one or two anna for their Rathyatra services.
Due to ignorance, Britishers and outsiders usually termed them ‘coolies’. But they were proud of their service to their revered deities. R.L.Mitra has mentioned about their service in ‘Antiquities of Orissa’. Mitra mentions, “The actual operation of dragging being afterwards performed by a body of 4200 coolies, called Kalabetiyas who enjoy rent free lands in the neighbouring village for their service”.
Badadanda is no more a gruelling patch of sand and mud. It has become easy to pull the chariots on the broad tarred road. So, there is no need to use Kalabethias to pull the chariots. The Kalabethia servitors sigh in despair thinking of their loss of right to serve Shree Jagannath.