Jagannath Rath Yatra - Unravel the Vacation of Gods

Rath Yatra, a parade of 3 deities has arrived. So, get triggered with the fervour and enthusiasm of this chariot festival. 

Let your fortune shine with this Jagannath Rath Yatra, so pull the chariot and vouchsafe yourself with the blessings of Lord Jagannath.

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करे 

Today, on 25th June, 2017 India will witness Jagannath Rath Yatra and it is one of the most famous chariot or car festival commemorated at Jagannath Puri temple in Orissa. It is celebrated on the second day during the Shukla Paksha of Ashada month. The Festival of Chariots or the Rath Yatra festival is one of the major festivals dedicated to Lord Jagannath who is also said to be as the Master of Universe. It is a very renowned festival in which people from all around the world turn up to witness the Jagannath Rath Yatra. This festival exemplifies the annual visit of Lord Jagannath to the famous Gundicha Mata temple. On the day of Jagannath Rath Yatra, bedecked chariots carry Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to the nearby Gundicha Temple. 

Get apprised with the detailed information about Jagannath Rath Yatra

According to a famous lore, the Rath Yatra envisages that Lord Jagannath who resides in Puri temple, yearns to visit his birthplace Mathura once in a year along with his siblings. At the famous Jagannath temple in Orissa, Lord Krishna is worshipped as ‘Lord Krishna’. Balabhadra is elder brother of Lord Krishna, while Subhadra is his younger sister. 

Chariots of Rath Yatra Festival

The main attraction of the Jagannath Rath Yatra festival are the chariots which are made and constructed on the first day of Akshaya Tritiya. The three principal chariots are pulled by the volunteers by 50 metres long ropes. People rush in to pull the chariots, as they believe that doing so would add up to their good deeds in this very life. The Chariot of Lord Jagannath is also referred to as ‘Nandighosa’ which is almost 45.6 feet high. However, the chariot of Balabhadra also referred to as ‘Taladhavja’ which is 45 feet high and the chariot of Subhadra also known as ‘Devdalana’ is almost 44.6 feet high. The procession of the chariots begins the enthusiasm for the Yatra.

On the day of Akshaya Tritiya, begins the making of Rathas. Then, the most auspicious ceremony is the Ratha Yatra, where thousands of devotees pull three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to the Gundicha Temple. The three deities enter the Gundicha temple and they stay there for seven days. 

It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, wife of Lord Jagannath visits the temple in search of him. Before the Yatra day, the three deities are given bath with a total of 108 pitchers of water and it is also called as Snaan Purnima. 

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Rituals

Pahandi: In this ritual, the chariots of all the three deities are carried to the Gundicha temple. 

Chhera Pahara: This ritual is carried out on the very first day of the journey. According to it, everyone stands equal in the eyes of the deities and Gajapati King in the attire of a sweeper cleans the area around the deities by the help of golden hand broom and sandalwood water. This ritual is seen on two days, the first when the chariots are pulled to Gundicha temple and secondly, the day when the three deities return back to the Jagannath temple. 

Astrological Significance

Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa holds colossal religious importance and the Jagannath Rath Yatra is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, one of the manifestations of Lord Vishnu. It is the time when tourists and non hindus who are refrained from entering the temple are allowed to witness the idols of the deities. The Ratha is pulled by thousand of devotees in order to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath.

We, at Astrosage wish you all a very happy and prosperous Jagannath Rath Yatra.