The largest chariot festival in the world is one of a kind, and stands as an epitome of faith and love for Lord Jagannath in Hinduism. This auspicious day is termed to hold a great significance in the lives of the devotees of Lord Krishna, since thousands of years. And here’s why it is celebrated.
On the auspicious occasion of #Jagannath#RathYatra we wish you all healthy year ahead…#JagannathRathYatra#RathYatra2021 pic.twitter.com/zqKmItyb3H
— Abhishek Choudhary (@withabhinsui) July 12, 2021
Why do we celebrate Rath Yatra?
The world’s largest chariot festival has its roots in the very famous Jagannath temple of Puri in Odisha – the east Indian state known for celebrating more than thousands of festivals every year. But Rath Yatra holds a special place in the list, believed to be celebrated since the 12th Century.
Dedicated to Jagannath and his mythological siblings – elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The festival marks the annual journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to the famous Gundicha Temple, 2.5km away from the 12th century old Jagannath temple.
Let us celebrate the grandeur of Lord Jagannath on the propitious occasion of the #RathYatra.
May Lord Jagannath bless you all.with good health, longevity, peace, prosperity, and happiness.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna#RathYatra2021 pic.twitter.com/O4rMMJ2KVS
— Sourabh Choudhary (@MrChoudharyS) July 12, 2021
Interestingly, Gundicha temple plays an important segment during Rath Yatra festival. The Gundicha ghar (temple) is believed to be the home of Krishna’s beloved aunt Gundicha. On the auspicious occassion of Rath Yatra, the three siblings, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra pay a visit to their aunt’s home to savour the delicacies prepared by her.
Commencing the Rathyaytra from भगवान जगन्नाथ temple, it moves in the whole city of Puri and reaches at Gundicha temple. Here Bhagwan Jagannath, Shri Balaram and Subhadra-devi stay for 7 days.#mondaythoughts#MondayVibes#Secrets_Of_JagannathTemple pic.twitter.com/BE7T4Ic8Hx
— Sony (@Sony_2023) July 12, 2021
The prime delicacy served as offering to the deities on this day is ‘Poda peetha’ (a delectable sweet cake prepared from rice). Jagannath and his siblings enjoy their sojourn at the Gundicha temple for nine days.
On this special occasion of #RathaJatra presenting the favourite dessert of Lord Jagannath, #PodaPitha.
After his every meal, he loves to have Poda Pitha, which you may read in Manabasa Laxmipurana.On the Bahuda Yatra he visited to his Aunty's house just to have some Poda… pic.twitter.com/3unO4TAMql
— FoodieOdia (@FoodieOdia) June 23, 2020
To this day, more than a million devotees visit Puri to participate in the annual festival. They witness the festival as the King of Puri sweeps the way ahead of the chariot with a broom encrusted with pure gold.
The Rath Yatra of Shri Jagannath Prabhu 2021, in Ahmedabad. This time due to the Covid-19, it will be taken out amid curfew so that people cannot participate. Usually every year a huge crowd gathers in the Grand Rath Yatra. #JagannathRathYatra #AmitShah #AhmedabadRathyatra pic.twitter.com/NgS9Gq8jly
— Krishna Priya (@Krishna_Priiya) July 12, 2021
The 18-wheeled huge chariots, three in number, bearing the holy trio, make their way through the crowd of millions.
Let us celebrate the glory of Lord Jagannath on the auspicious occasion of the Rath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath bless you with peace, prosperity, and happiness.#RathYatra2021 #JayJagannath pic.twitter.com/4bBxi20ezt
— Ajay Kumar (@Real_Ajay_kumar) July 12, 2021
The chariots are framed as mini architectural wonders – carefully constructed for over 42 days. And more than 4,000 pieces of wood are used in the construction.
The Personal Chariots of Their Lordships.
The Jagannatha Puri festival main feature is the pulling of the Rath’s from Gundicha back to the main Temple, but there are many details behind the festival, how many pieces of wood are used, the colors of the ch… https://t.co/BU3K2BUfQi pic.twitter.com/cqQI1SbJ2c— citraka (@citraka) July 12, 2021
Highlights of Rath Yatra
Rath Yatra is the only Hindu festival in the entire globe where the deities are taken out from the temple to pay a visit to their devotees once in a year. This festival holds a huge cultural importance in every Odia family, because Lord Jagannath is considered to be the Royal Majesty of Puri.
Jagannath Rath Yatra is celebrate by millions of devotees that came from across the world to seeks the blessings of God's and fulfil their wishes.💕🙏🙏🙏🙏#HappyRathYatra #JayJagannath@narendramodi @anubhavpatnaik7@Sasta24 @RautraySourav pic.twitter.com/gDd8TAf59L
— Laxmi Bisht (@LaxmiBi12723318) June 23, 2020
Alongside the deities, the devotees travel on foot, dragging the chariot ropes as a symbolic gesture.
It is believed (and there has rarely been an exception), that it will rain every year on the day of Rath Yatra.
Rath Yatra 2020, Amphan cyclone start rain and wind, Construction of chariots in Puri continuing. #Jayjagannath @ pic.twitter.com/bYSjU3QjVi
— Dusmanta sahoo (@Dusmanta__Sahoo) May 19, 2020
The crowd for this festival tops more than a million every year and devotees participate all the way by walking 2.5 kms along with the chariot. However, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the festival was cancelled for the first time in history. It was termed extremely inauspicious and unusual natural events were correlated by devotees to the cancellation of the festival.
High, tall & handsome !
All arrangements made to a tee for Rath Yatra-2021 at #Puri amid curfew on Monday in the middle of Covid pandemic for 2nd year in row. (Pic : @SJTA_Puri) pic.twitter.com/2FtFWsW9Hw
— Debabrata (@DebabrataTOI) July 11, 2021
This time, adequate COVID-19 safety protocols have been enacted to ensure the festival does not become a hotspot for the disease. A curfew has been imposed across Puri, barring devotees to step out from their homes to participate in the procession. Needless to say, the crowd is rather sparse this year The main Pandits of the temple, numbered at more than a thousand, are allowed to participate only after getting tested.
