Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra In Puri

Ratha Yatra also called the Car festival or Chariot festival is a major festival of Odisha. Ratha Yatra means Ratha means “chariot” and yatra meaning “journey“, this festival involves an annual journey of the deities.

Ratha-Yatra (Puri), at Puri in the state of Odisha, is the largest and most visited Rath Yatra in the world attracting a large crowd every year.

This festival draws millions of tourists both in-land and foreigners to the Grand Road. And the deities come down from the main temple to the Grand Road to meet the ocean of pilgrims.

The Rath Yatra festival commences on July 7, 2024.

Preparations for the festival start much before. Every year new chariots are constructed. Only the ‘Sarathi‘ (charioteer), Ghoda (horses), Kalasa (Crowning element), and Parswa devatas are not made new every year. They are prepared for the year of Navakalebara (the New-body ceremony). In terms of the provisions laid down in the Puri Car Festival code, it is the responsibility of the Forest Department of Govt. of Orissa to supply the required timber for construction of the Rathas free of cost every year.

Also Read: Interesting Mysteries Of Puri Jagannath Temple

The construction of the Rathas starts on Akshaya Tritiya day. Each of these grand and huge Rathas (chariots) have different specifications:

The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called ‘Nandighosa’ – has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits in height. Jagannatha’s Ratha is marked with a chakra and Garuda, is yellow in color, with four white horses. The protecting deity is Narsimha.

The chariot of Balabhadra is called ‘Taladhvaja’ – has 16 wheels and is 22 cubits in height. Baladeva’s cart is blue, with a palm tree insignia, and four black horses. The protecting deity is Sesa.

The chariot of Subhadra is called’ Devadalana’ – has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits in height. Subhadra’s cart is black, with lotus insignia, protected by Vanadurga.

These Rathas are extremely, beautifully decorated with lots of special colored fabric, colors, flowers, beads, mirrors and etc. Various symbols and signs are also used for the pilgrims to distinguish between the three Gods. The idols of these three deities are also made of wood and they are religiously replaced by new ones after every 12 years. This is a very peculiar and rare custom, exclusive only to the temple of Puri.

Why Ratha Yatra is carried at Jagannath Temple?

Jagannath is the lord of the universe and Rath means Chariot and Yatra mean pilgrimage or a journey. So this ritual celebration is an attempt to bring Lord Jagannath down from his pedestal and manifest his glory on a more human level.

This festival commemorates Lord Krishna’s return to his home in Vrindavan. Deities Jagannath, (Krishna), Balbhadra (Balaram), and Subhadra are worshiped and a chariot procession is carried out on the street for everyone to rejoice in the kind glory of Lord Jagannath.

The Puri Rath Yatra is world-famous for the crowd that it attracts. Puri being the abode of these three deities, the place plays host to devotees, tourists, and some millions of pilgrims from across India and abroad. Many artists and artisans are engaged in building these three chariots, weaving the fabric covers that dress up the chariots and painting them in the right shades and motifs to give them the best possible looks.

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Then comes the graceful day of Yatra, when these 45-feet high idols are pulled by millions of devotees who came here from all over the world. The act of pulling the Rath by the ropes during Rath Yatra Puri is believed to be an extremely religious act, the belief which attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.