Lord Jagannath’s Chariot Festival Rath Yatra is celebrated every year in Puri, a temple town in Orissa, on the east coast of India. The main gods in the main temple, are all taken out from the temple area after careful ceremonial processions and handed over to their respective chariots.
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is considered to be one of the largest chariot’s festivals in India. To celebrate these celebrations, the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and the Goddess Subhadra will be pulled on the main road from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple 2.5 km away.
Puri Rath Yatra is world-famous, attracting not only India but also more than one million pilgrims from all over the world every year. In other words, the Rath Yatra chariot festival is the only day that does not allow the devotees of the temple to have a chance to see the gods.
What is the Significance of Jagannath Rath Yatra?
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra commemorates Jagannath’s annual visit to Gundicha Temple through the Mausi Maa Temple (the mother’s aunt’s home) near Saradha Bali in Puri.
As part of Ratha Yatra, the deity Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and his sister Devi Subhadra and Sudarshan marched from the main temple of Jagannath Temple and placed in the Ratha (chariot), ready to be in front of the temple.
This process is called “Pahandi”. The parade starts with “Madan Mohan”, then “Sudarshana” Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath Deva.
Later, King Puri, Gajapati Maharaja, was also known as the first servant of the House of Lords, and he became “Chhera Pahanra” (Holy Chariot). Finally, devotees drag the chariot to the temple of Gondica, also known as the birthplace of the House of Lords.
How are the Chariots made for Rath Yatra?
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra involves three chariots-Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha. Architects use timber from designated trees to build these tanks every year.
Traditionally, logs floated in the Mahanadi River as rafts. These are collected near Puri and then transported by road. The three wooden chariots of the Three Gods are heavy because they are made of more than 13,000 cubic feet of wood.
Thousands of devotees pull the chariot with strong ropes. The chariot is decorated following the specified unique scheme and then stood along the Bada Danda for many centuries.
The huge chariot is covered with bright canopies made of red cloth stripes and contrasts with black, yellow, and green. In front of the majestic temple, huge chariots are arranged on the wide avenue near the east entrance. Also known as Sinhadwara or Lion Gate.
These three gods have 3 different tanks-Lord Jagannath’s tank of Nandighosa, 45.6 feet high, Balabhadra’s rath, Taladhwaja’s rath, 45 feet high, Subhadra’s rath, Devadalana’s rath, 14 high The foot height is 44.6 feet.
Every year, wooden temples like chariots are newly built. The idols of these three idols are also made of wood and will be replaced by new idols every twelve years.
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How is the Jagannath Rath Yatra Celebrated?
During the annual Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, devotees from all over the world flock to Puri, eager to help pull the chariot of the House of Lords. They think this is auspicious behavior. The chariot is accompanied by a huge parade with drums, metal soundboards, and so on.
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra also broadcasts live on many foreign TV channels in India, while some websites broadcast live on Jagannath Rath yatra.
What is the Legend of the Jagannath Rath Yatra?
To kill Lord Krishna and Lord Balram, their mother’s uncle Kansa invited them to Mathura. He took a tank with him to Akkur and sent it to Gokul.
As requested, Lord Krishna and Balram sat on the chariot and headed to Mathura. The devotee celebrates this departure day as Rath Yatra.
The ecstatic devotee celebrated the day when Lord Krishna defeated evil Kansas in the battle and gave them on the chariot with his brother Balaram on the Dashan Mountain in Mathura.
Dwarika devotees celebrated the day. Lord Krishna, accompanied by Balaram, took his sister Subhadra in a chariot. To show the splendor of the city.
Once Lord Krishna’s queens requested mother Rohini to tell Gopis about many interesting ras lilas in Lord Krishna. Rohini considered Subhadra to hear such a plot inappropriate (Leela) and sent her away.
Despite this, Vrajkatha quickly absorbed Subhadra and Krishna and Balram who are now on the scene. When they were absorbed in the story, Narad arrived. When the brothers and sisters were found standing still, he prayed:
“May the three of you always grant Dashan in this way forever.” The gift was granted. These three people live forever in the Temple of Puri in Lord Jagannath.
In the 18-day battle of Mahabharata, there is an exciting story about Lord Krishna becoming Sarathi, the driver of the Arjuna chariot.
Finally, a story from mouth to mouth tells what happened after Lord Krishna’s mortal body was cremated.
When Shri Krishna was cremated in Dwarika, Balaram, who was very uneasy about the development, hurriedly drowned himself in the ocean with Krishna’s partially cremated body. Subadra followed.
Meanwhile, on the eastern coast of India, King Indradyumna of Jagannath Puri dreamed that the body of the Lord would float to the coast of Puri. He should build a huge statue in the city and sanctify the wooden statues of Krishna, Balaram, and Subadra.
The bones (asthi) of Lord Krishna’s body should be placed in the cavity on the back of the statue. A dream come true. The king found the broken bones (asthi) and caught them. But the question is who will carve the statue.
It is believed that the architect of the gods Vishwakarma is an old carpenter. He made it clear that no one should disturb him when carving a statue. In case someone does this, he will disappear and the work is still not completed.
Several months have passed. The impatient Indradyumna opened the door of Vishwakarma’s room. Vishwakarma, as warned before, disappeared immediately. Although the statue was not completed, the king sanctified it. Put the holy cinders of Lord Krishna in the hollow of the statue, and then install them in the temple.
Every year, on three huge chariots, there are majestic parades of statues of Lord Krishna, Balaram, and Subadra. A huge chariot was pulled by devotees from Janakpur to the temple of Jagannath Puri. These statues are replaced every 12 years-the new ones are also incomplete.
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What happens to the Chariot after the Rath Yatra?
At the end of the Rath yatra, the chariots were removed and their wood was used as fuel in the temple kitchen. It is believed that the temple kitchen is the largest in the world, can cook 56 things a day, and can feed 2,000 to nearly 200,000 people.
Conclusion
This festival is considered to be the oldest Rath Yatra or chariot parade in the world, and it marks Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra every year Routine parades, from their home temple to another temple, are located in what they consider to be the aunt’s home.
Millions of people watched the “King” sweeping the road with a gold mop, and three giant chariots carrying 18 rounds of siblings of siblings entered a large crowd. Their chariot is a miniature architectural miracle, built by more than 4,000 pieces of wood in the only family with hereditary rights over 42 days.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What is the story behind Rath Yatra?
Jagannath Rath Yatra is organized at Puri in Odisha. It is believed that Lord Jagannath every year wishes to visit his birthplace. Various stories are associated with this festival: One of the tales is linked with King Subal who was a great devotee of Jagannath.
Why is Jagannath black?
Though Jagannath’s black hue is analogous to that of Lord Krishna, he represents the common farmer on the field who gets tanned by exposure to the scorching heat.
What is the importance of Rath Yatra?
The significance of the Rath Yatra is immense for a person, who longs for spiritual merit and final liberation. It is believed that anyone who pulls the rope linked to the chariots of the deities and helps others also in doing so or merely touches the rope or chariots, gets the merit of several penances.
How many wheels does Nandighosh Rath have?
The chariot of Jagannath has a yellow and red color canopy and it is also the largest of the chariots. The Chariot has 4 horses and the color of the horses is White. The height of the Chariot is 45 feet and it has 16 wheels.
Why Krishna is called Jagannath?
Jagannath means the Lord of all the worlds, whether spiritual or material everything is under His lordship. As per many scriptures like Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, etc. Lord Krishna is the lord of all the universes. Therefore He is also called Jagannatha.