Rath Yatra । Jagannath Mandir । Puri । Odisha
RATH YATRA, The Festival of Chariots is celebrated every year at the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha. The Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival is based around the worship of Lord Jagannath, A re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu & Krishna. Rath Yatra commemorates the Lord Jagannath’s annual visit to his aunt’s place Gundicha Temple.
The presiding deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra (Elder brother) , Subhadra (Younger Sister) and Sudarshan Chakra (Celestial Wheel) are taken out of the Jagannath temple premises in an elaborate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by thousands of devotees from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple, A distance of 3Kms. After staying for 7 days at Gundicha Temple, the deities return to their abode — Jagannath Temple or Jagannath Mandir.
Rathe tu Vaamanam drustva Punarjanmam na vidyate
“A Glimpse of Vamanna avatar — the dwarf form of Lord Vishnu, An incarnation of Lord Jagannath is sure to ensure emancipation- release from cycle of birth & death.” Saints, Poets, Scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival.
The three chariots of 1. Balabhadra 2. Subhadra 3. Jagannath are newly constructed every year with the wood of specified Neem Tree, selected by a specialist team of carpenters who has hereditary rights and privileges for the same. Chariots are constructed and decorated as per the prescribed traditions, followed for centuries.
Lord Jagannath’s chariot has a height of 45 feet with 16 wheels attached to it and each wheel has a diameter of 7 feet. Each of the 3 Chariot is attached with 4 horses (Symbolic horses, made of wood).
The construction of chariots starts from the tithi (or day )of Akshaya Tritiya- 3rd day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakh Month (14May, 2021). Watch the below video, to know more about the festival of Akshaya Tritiya.
This day of Akshaya Tritiya marks the beginning of festival with the ritual — CHANDAN YATRA. The ritual lasts for three weeks, where the representative idols of deities — MadanMohana, Bhudevi, Sridevi, RamaKrishna and 5 Shivlingas of Puri’s main 5 Shiva temples (Panch Pandavas) are taken out in a colourful procession and given a ceremonial boat ride in Narendra Tank (one of the five holy water bodies of Puri) everyday.
Chandan(Sandalwood) Yatra culminates in SNAN YATRA, The Bathing Festival. This happens on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshtha. It is belived to be the auspicious birth day of Lord Jagannath. They are bathed with 108 pots of water brought from the Sona-Kua (Golden well) and wear the attire of Elephant look-alike. From this day, Deities are remain in symbolic and ritual convalescence for about two weeks. They are barred from the view of ordinary devotees.
After the Snan Yatra, the gods are traditionally belived to fall ill and are kept in a sick room to recuperate in privacy under care of Raj Vaidya (Ayurvedic Doctor). The 3 Patta Chitra(traditional paintings on cloth) are displayed for devotees to view, hiding the deities idols.
NAVA JAUBANA — The renewal of youth. As the period of sickness ends, the deities are given the fresh coat of paint as per the established traditions. The deities are now ready for public appearance . This is known as the Nava Jaubana — a celebration of the renewal of youth.
RATH YATRA : At last the appointed day for the great festival of chariot arrives, just the next day of Nava Jaubana. As per Hindu calendar, It is the tithi of Asadha Shukla Dwitiya, the 2nd Lunar day of the bright fortnight of Asadha month. The date change as per gregorian calendar every year, this time it is 12th July 2021. The presiding deities of the lord — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra in a unique reversal of roles of the seeker and sought, set out from within the sanctum of the temple to mingle with the millions of their devotees.
