India, the land of festivals is host to many colorful celebrations and the most grand of these is the Rath Yatra in Puri. It is hosted in honor of Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra. They are the deities who reside in the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha.
The festival involves devotees pulling the chariots of the deities. Thousands of devotees participate in the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra.
This year the Lord Jagannath Puri Yatra will be organized on 7 July 2024. It is celebrated annually on the second day of the fortnight of the month of Ashadh as per the Hindu calendar.
Located in Puri, Odisha the Lord Jagannath temple is a sight to behold. Built in the traditional Kalinga style of architecture the temple was built centuries ago by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. It houses the idols of the presiding deity Lord Jagannath who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra. These idols are very peculiar in appearance because they are not like the ones we see in temples usually. They are carved from wood and have a very abstract form, especially Lord Jagannath’s eyes which are wide open.
The Lord Jagannath Puri temple is of extreme importance to Hindus all over the world. It is considered to be one of the Char Dhams or the 4 sacred pilgrimage centers of Hindus. It is believed that by visiting these Char Dhams a person can attain liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. This is one of the reasons why thousands of devotees pay a visit to this beautiful temple every year.
Rath means chariot and yatra means journey. The Rath Yatra is the most famous festival of the Lord Jagannath temple. It involves the deities of the temple being taken in a grand procession to the Gundicha Mata temple which was constructed in honor of Queen Gundicha who is considered to be the aunt of Lord Jagannath. So in a way the rath yatra symbolizes the visit of the deity to his aunt’s house. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are placed on grand chariots which are pulled by thousands of devotees through the streets of Puri.
The construction of the chariots begins on Akshaya Tritiya. Every year new chariots are constructed for this magnificent festival.
These chariots are made from almost 4000 pieces of wood. Only those artisans whose families have hereditary rights to craft these chariots can be involved in this process. It takes 42 days for them to build these magnificent wooden marvels.
All the three chariots have their names and characteristics. The chariot of Lord Jagannath is named Nandighosha. It has 16 wheels and is red and yellow in color. It is 45 feet high. The chariot of Lord Balabhadra is 44 feet high and has 14 wheels. It is red and green in color. It is named Taladhwaja. Devi Subhadra’s chariot is 43 feet high and is red and black in color. It has 12 wheels. It is called Dwarapadalana.
The Lord Jagannath Puri yatra holds immense spiritual significance. It is a way for many devotees of Lord Jagannath to gain his mercy. It is believed that whoever pulls or even touches the ropes attached to these chariots is absolved of his or her sins and attains freedom from the cycle of birth and death. The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is a symbol of devotion and immense love for the divine.
It is also a symbol of unity. When thousands of devotees pull the chariots the gesture stands as a mark of their unity. People from all walks of life participate in this grand event.
Many rituals of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra are symbolic of equality as well. For instance, the act of sweeping the chariots performed by the King of Puri signifies that everyone is equal in the eyes of God irrespective of their caste, profession, gender, status, etc.
★ The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra begins with the ceremonial procession of carrying the idols of the three deities from the temples and placing them on the wooden chariots. First, the idol of Lord Balabhadra is taken out, this is followed by the idol of Devi Subhadra, and finally, the idol of Lord Jagannath is taken out. This ceremony is called Pahandi.
★ Another important part of the Lord Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is the Chhera Pahara. In this, the Gajapati King dresses as a sweeper and cleans the chariots with brooms with golden handles. He also sprinkles sandalwood water on the chariot. This symbolizes that everyone is equal in the eyes of God.
★ Once the Chhera Pahara is done the chariots are tied to idols of horses. Four wooden idols for each chariot. The trumpet is blown and gongs are beaten. The whole atmosphere comes alive with these sounds and this marks the start of the pulling of the chariots. The devotees sing hymns and songs in praise of Lord Jagannath as they pull the chariots.
★ When the procession reaches the Gundicha Mata temple the idols of the deities are bathed and dressed. Apart from this when the chariots reach the Gundicha Mata temple the deities are taken inside the temple ceremonially. The deities reside in the temple for 7 days and during this time all the rituals that are usually performed in the Lord Jagannath temple are performed here as well.
★ It is believed that whoever gets to witness the deities during the evening darshans is blessed by the Lord. The Sandhya Darshans of the deities in the Adapa Mandapa of the temple is equivalent to 10 years of darshans of them residing in the Lord Jagannath Puri temple.
★ Hera Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day. It marks the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi at the temple in search of Lord Jagannath. It is a colorful ritual which is a delightful sight for the devotees.
★ After the stay of the deities at the Gundicha Mata temple, the procession is taken from there to the Lord Jagannath temple. This part of the Rath Yatra is called the Bahuda Yatra. The devotees gear up again to pull the chariots of the deities.
★ This part of the Lord Jagannath Puri yatra is marked by a halt at the Mausi Maa temple where the deities are served a bhog of Poda Pitha. It is a special type of cake that is offered to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
★ On the Shukla Ekadashi, the deities are adorned with ornaments of gold when their chariots are stationed in front of the Sinha Dwara or the Lion Gate of the Lord Jagannath Puri temple. This ceremony is called the Suna Besha.
★ On the next day, which is the Shukla Dwadashi, the deities are offered a special type of drink which is prepared by mixing milk, cheese, sugar, and spices. This is called Adhara Pana.
★ Finally the next day the deities are carried in a procession inside the Lord Jagannath temple. This is called Niladri Bije.
If the Lord Jagannath Puri temple is the most beautiful temple in Odisha then the Lord Jagannath Puri yatra is the most beautiful, grand, vibrant, and captivating festival of the temple.
It is organized in honor of the presiding deity of the temple Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and his sister Devi Subhadra. A grand procession is carried out in which the idols of the deities are placed on wooden chariots and taken to the Gundicha Mata temple. The most unique part about this festival is that these chariots are pulled by devotees of the Lord.
Every year it arrives in the Ashadh month on the second day of the fortnight of the month. This date is decided as per the Hindu calendar.
The festival is attended by devotees in huge numbers who are just eager to get a glimpse of their Lord and take part in pulling the chariots of the deities. Many rituals are part of the rath yatra of the Puri Temple. Each of them has significance and is unique. From the Chhera Pahara which symbolizes unity to Hera Panchami which is a celebration of Goddess Lakshmi’s visit to the Gundicha Mata temple in search of Lord Jagannath, each ritual is special and vibrant.
The Rath Yatra of the Lord Jagannath Puri temple is a symbol of spiritual devotion and unity. It is a festival that unites thousands of people and brings peace to many.
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