Jagannath Rath Yatra
Jagannath Rath Yatra is referred by Gundicha Yatra, Ghosa Yatra, Navadina Yatra, Dasavatara and Chariot festival is the world famous Hindu festival held at Puri in India. The revered deity of this festival is Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra. He is considered as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. This festival is usually commemorated during the months of June or July.
This Chariot festival is being attended by millions of pilgrims not only from India but also from the different parts of the world.
During this festival the three deities, Jagannath Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra are worshiped within the Jagannath temple, and then they are taken to the streets of Puri in their individual chariot.
The chariot of Jagannath, Nandighosa, has a wooden temple like structure and runs on 18 wheels and is 45.6 feet high. The chariot of Balabhadra, Taladhwaja also has a wooden temple like structure runs on 16 wheels and is 45 feet high. The chariot of Subhadra, Devadalana again has the wooden temple like structure runs on 14 wheels and is 44.6 ft high. Wooden idol of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra ornamented with the gold are placed in their chariots with great devotion. Jagannath believed to be the manifestation of Vishnu. Many Hindu epics mentioned Jagannath is referred to be the form, Krishna. Every year new wooden temples like chariots are constructed. The idols of these three deities are also made of wood, and they are religiously replaced by new ones in every 12 years.
There is an interesting legend behind Jagannath Yatra:
According to Hindu epics such as Utkala-khanda and Skanda Purana. Once during a solar eclipse, Krishna, Balarama, Subhadra, people of Dwarka, went to take a bathe in the holy pond of Kurukshetra.
Radha Rani, Krishna’s beloved along with Krishna’s parents Nanda and Yashoda, and other residents of Vrindavana, came to know that Krishna would be there, they went to meet him there.
Dwarka residents and other pilgrims placed tents around the pond. In one of the tent Rohini, who was Balarama’s mother Rohini, was narrating Krishna’s childhood pastimes in the Vrindavan to the Queens of Dwaraka and others. Rohini’s narration was confidential, so she posted Subhadra at the door to prevent anyone from entering.
After some time, Krishna and Balarama came to the door and stood on Subhadra’s left and right sides. They started listening to Rohini’s narration of Krishna’s intimate Vrindavana pastimes.
Interestingly, when Krishna and Balarama listened to the feelings became ecstatic, and their internal feelings were exhibited externally. Their heads compressed into their bodies, their eyes became dilated, and their limbs retracted. Seeing these transformations in Krishna and Balarama, Subhadra also became ecstatic and assumed a similar form. This way Krishna and Balarama, with Subhadra assumed their ecstatic forms of Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra.
Most Significant rituals during Rath Yatra
Pahandi
Pahandi is the ritual to take deities from Sanctum of Jagannath temple to the Chariot for the royal journey towards Gundicha Temple. This temple is just two kilometers away from Jagannath Temple. Gundicha was a true devotee of Krishna. The three deities visit her to honor her devotion.
First the idol of Balabhadra than Subhadra and at the end idol of Jagannath were taken out to their respective chariot. All the three deities assemble at a seven-stairs northern exit and receive giant floral crowns, called Tahias. There all the three deities are led to their respective chariots.
Chhera Pahara
On the first day of Journey, One of the most significant rituals is performed, and that is Chhera Pahara (sweeping with water and sandalwood water). This ritual gives the lesson that everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord. For performing chhera pahara ritual, the Gajapati King wears the uniform of a sweeper and clean the area around the deities and chariots with a gold-handled broom, sandalwood water with utmost devotion. This ritual is performed on two days. The first time is on the first day of the Yatra, when the deities are taken to Gundicha Temple and the second time, when deities return to the Jagannath Temple.
When three deities settled in their respective chariots, Lakhs of devotees are eagerly waiting to touch the 250 feet holy cables to pull the chariots along the 3km. Long Grand road to the destination point at the Gundicha temple. The professional chariot pullers also assist the devotees.
Upon arrival to Gudicha temple, all the three deities are given ceremonial bath and dressed in... Read Mote
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