Puri Rath Yatra

Puri Rath Yatra

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Puri Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival that takes place in the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India. It's the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival. The festival is associated with the deity Jagannath. The festival is celebrated annually on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh. In 2023, it was celebrated on June 20. The festival involves the transportation of the idols of: Lord Krishna, Lord Balabhadra, Subhadra. Also, known as the Car Festivals or Chariot Festival, Rath Yatra is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, when the huge deities of Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra are taken for a religious yatra on the chariots to the Jagannath temple for a week.

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Puri Rath Yatra Odisha

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Ratha Yatra or Ratha Jatra or Chariot Festival of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra, a Hindu festival, is undoubtedly the biggest and the most popular festival held in Odisha. It is the oldest Ratha Yatra taking place in India and the world. Every year in the month of June or July, this festival is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha, Ashadh month as per the traditional Oriya calendar. It is considered most auspicious to visit the temple during this period.
The festival in Odisha is celebrated for nine days, the commencement of this festival is called as the Rath Yatra and the return journey on a ninth day is called as Bahuda Jatra. During the return journey (Bahuda Jatra) of Ratha yatra festival, the chariot of Lord Jagannath stops at Mausi Maa temple (Lord Jagannath's Aunt) and the deity is offered his favorite Poda Pitha, a kind of baked cake meant for the poor. As part of Ratha Yatra, the deities of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and younger sister Devi Subhadra are moved from their holy abode for a procession up to Gundicha Temple.

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The festival involves the following rituals:

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• The Snana Purnima ritual, in which the three idols are washed with water using 108 buckets
• The return journey of the three deities, known as "Bahuda yatra"

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The chariots have their own names:

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• Lord Jagannath's chariot is called Nandighosh
• Lord Balabhadra's chariot is called Taladhwaja
• Devi Subhadra's chariot is called Darpadalana

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Highlights of the Festival

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• This festival is celebrated for Nine days, during which the Lord Jagannath, along with other two deities, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra visit Gundicha Temple and his Mausi Maa (Aunt's) temple.
• The Rath Yatra starts from this temple, visits the Gundicha temple, and returns to the Puri Jagannath temple on the Ninth (9th) day.
• Large chariots of about 45 feet are created by the traditional carpenters for the Yatra

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