Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Jagannath Rath Yatra Puri June 20, 2023

Jagannath Rath Yatra Puri

           
jagannath rath yatra


Ratha Yatra on Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Dwitiya Tithi Begins - 11:25 AM on Jun 19, 2023
Dwitiya Tithi Ends - 01:07 PM on Jun 20, 2023

About Jagannath Rath Yatra Puri

Jagannath Yatra is one of the most-awaited festivals not only in Odisha but also in the entire country. This annual event is celebrated in the month of June or July. Jagannath Yatra is a religious procession which is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), his sister Goddess Subhadra, and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra;. It is also called as Chariot Festival.

The festival is celebrated on the 2nd day of the Shukla Paksha, Ashadh month according to the traditional Oriya Calendar.

Lord Jagannatha is worshipped primarily in city of Puri at famous Jagannatha temple. Lord Jagannatha is considered a form of Lord Vishnu and also revered by the followers of Vaishnavism. Jagannatha literally means Lord of the Universe.

It is the oldest Rath Yatra taking place in India and in the world. Jagannath Yatra is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha as per the traditional Oriya calendar. This auspicious festival is celebrated for nine days in Odisha. The festival commences with the Rath Yatra and concludes on a ninth day with a return journey - Bahuda Jatra. During Bahuda Jatra the Rathas visit the Mausi Maa Temple. The deities are moved from their abode of Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple during the procession.

On the first day of the procession, the Raths of the deities reach the Gundicha Temple and remain there for the next seven days. And on the ninth day, they return to the Jagannath Temple. The three chariots are constructed and decorated for the deities to start their Yatra. The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called Nandighosa, which is 45.6 feet high with 18 wheels. Lord Balabhadra’s chariot is known as Taladhwaja, which is 45 feet high with 16 wheels. Devi Subhadra’s chariot is known as Dwarapadalan, which is 44.6 feet high with 14 wheels.

All the chariots are pulled by devotees with the help of ropes to the Gundicha Temple, which is situated 3 km from Jagannath Temple. This festival is the perfect depiction of the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the region.


Jagannath Rath Yatra Puri


History and Legends of Rath Yatra

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is believed to be the oldest religious procession in the world. This annual ceremonial procession marks the beginning of the 9-day long festival. There are various legends associated with the Jagannath Yatra. All involve Lord Jagannath who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and his siblings Subhadra and Balabhadra or Balaram.

According to one legend, the Jagannath Yatra symbolizes the journey of Lord Jagannath from Vrindavan to Mathura to slay his evil uncle Kansa. Another legend states that the siblings have just recovered from a severe fever and wish to visit their aunt Gundicha for a celebration. And the third legend states that this is an occasion when Lord Jagannath wants to step out to mingle with his devotees.

This festival holds a special significance in Hinduism as the Rath Yatra is a mass movement for enlightening people about the Krishna consciousness movement. It is believed that taking part in the Rath Yatra takes you one step ahead towards self-realization. This festival allows devotees to serve god. It is also assumed that those who pull the chariot rope and also help others in doing so or merely touch the ropes get the advantages of several penances.


jagannath rath yatra puri


The Chariots in Ratha Yatra

The prime attractions of the Rath Yatra of Jagannath are the Chariots. On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, the preparation of the chariots starts. There are 3 main chariots, hand-pulled with 50 meters long ropes. The artists decorate these chariots in a beautiful manner with designs, motifs, and paints.

Jagannath Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival is known to be one of the grandest procession festivals. It also finds its mention in Puranas of Hinduism such as Padma Puran, Brahma Puran, and Skanda Purana. The festival is known to have received rainfall every year on the day of the procession. As per the data, there has not been a single Rath Yatra without rainfall.

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