Rath yatra (Chariot
Festival )
This spectacular chariot festival celebrated
for 8 days is held at the famous Jagannath Temple at
Puri (Orissa). Thousands of devotees flock to Puri during
the occasion, as they believe that a glimpse of Lord
Jagannath in his chariot gives salvation. Images of
Lord Jagannath - the Lord of the Universe, his sister
Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in a procession
in three immense chariots. The main chariot is 14 meters
high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels.
Thousands of devotees pull these chariots to Gundicha
Mandir, a temple 3 km away. After a week, on 'Ashadha
Sukla Dasami', the 10th day of the bright fortnight
of Ashadha (June-July), return journey or 'Bahuda Yatra'
of the deities commences in the same manner from Gundicha
temple to the main temple like Rath Yatra.When two months
of Ashadha fall in one year, Rath Yatra is observed
as the festival of 'Nabakalebar' the old deities are
buried within the temple premises ('Koilibaikuntha')
and are replaced by new deities, carved out of Margosa
trees for which there are set procedures. Double Ashadha
occurs at intervals of 8 to 19 years. Construction of
the chariots begin as early as April.
Jagannath Rath Yatra or the' chariot journey of Lord
Jagannatha', observed in the month of Ashadha (June-July),
is a festival that celebrates the annual visit of the
God to his birthplace. The Jagannath Temple at Puri,
Orissa is the venue for all celebrations. Several lakh
people converge at Puri for this festival. An atmosphere
of almost hysterical devotion prevails on this day and
in earlier years; devotees were known to have thrown
themselves under the wheels of the rath in the hope
of obtaining instant salvation.
Images of Jagannath, as Lord Krishna is known, his
brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, are taken in
giant chariots to Gundicha Ghar. They stay there for
a week and then return to the temple. On their journeys
they are accompanied by a huge procession of people,
singing and celebrating.
The Legends behind the Yatra The festival has been
celebrated since ancient times. According to a legend
about its origin, Jagannatha is said to have expressed
his desire to visit his birthplace every year for a
week. Accordingly, the deities are taken to the Gundicha
Mandir every year.
According to another legend, Subhadra wanted to visit
Dwarka, her parent's home, and her brothers took her
there on this day. The Yatra is a commemoration of that
visit.
According to the Bhagavad Purana, it is believed that
it was on this day that Krishna and Balarama went to
Mathura to participate in a wrestling competition, at
Kansa's invitation.
Some Hindus believe that Jagannatha is an incarnation
of Vishnu. Since Vishnu has four arms, Balabhadra, Subhadra
and Sudarshana represent Vishnu's four arms. Each deity
has its own massive chariot, which are replicas of the
temple. Jagannatha's chariot, Nandighosha, is yellow
in color, 45 ft high and has 16 wheels, each one seven
feet in diameter. About 4,200 devotees draw the chariot.
Balabhadra's chariot is called Taladhvaja, is blue in
color and has 14 wheels. Subhadra's chariot is the smallest,
with 12 wheels and is called Deviratha.
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