Rath Yatra

Held on : 1st July

Ratha Yatra is one of the Largest Hindu Festivals associated with Lord Jagannath who is also known as Lord Krishna. It is held annually at Puri in the state of Orissa, during the month of June / July. Rath Yatra is composed of two words, 'Rath' means 'Chariot' and 'Yatra' means 'Journey', therefore it is a Chariot Festival wherein, the huge, colourfully decorated Chariots, are drawn by hundreds and thousands of devotees. Before the Yatra can begin, the three Chariots are constructed. The construction of these Chariots starts as early as April. The three Chariots are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. customarily brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla, by a specialist team of carpenters who have hereditary rights and privilege for the same. The Chariots are decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. Covered with a bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge Chariots are lined across the wide avenue right in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion’s Gate.

Lord Jagannatha’s Chariot is called Nandighosa. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven feet diameters, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krishna who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot. The Chariot of Lord Balabhadra, called the Taladhwaja, the one with the Palm Tree on its flag, has fourteen wheels, each of seven feet diameters and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet. The Chariot of Subhadra, known as 'Darpadalana', literally Trampler of Pride, is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven feet diameters. This Chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth, black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother goddess. Around each of the Chariots are nine Parsva Devatas, painted wooden images representing different Deities on the chariots’ sides. Each of the Chariots is attached with Four Horses. These are of different colours – white ones for Balabhadra, dark ones for Jagannatha and red ones for Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi. The three Charioteers attached to the Chariots of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra respectively are Matali, Daruka and Arjuna.

On the day of the Yatra, Lord Jaganatha, along with his brother Baladeva, and sister Subhadra, are taken out of the temple and pulled on huge chariots  through the streets of Puri. The festivities are so grand, spectacular, colourful, lively that it is befitting to Lord Jagnnath, a name synonym to 'Lord of the World'. The highlight is the sacred journey of the statues of the Lord Jagannath of Puri with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from Main Temple to Gundicha Temple, where they remain for nine days. The Yatra (journey) begins on the Second Day of the Lunar Month (asadha- full moon phase of June- July ). This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. The Festival lasts for around eight to ten days. The Festivities attract about 5-6 lakhs devotees to Puri each year.

History

There are certain Mythical Stories related with Rath Yatra's Origins

Some of the Major Mythical Stories:

Lord Krishna's, maternal uncle, Kansa wanted to kill Lord Krishna and Balram so he invited them to Mathura. He sent Akrur with a Chariot to Gokul. As asked, Lord Krishna, along with Balram, sat on the Chariot and left for Mathura. The devotees celebrate this day of departure as Rath Yatra.

This day is also celebrated as a day of victory of Good over Evil when Lord Krishna defeated the evil Kansa and took a victory procession or darshan (sighting) to all the devotees in a chariot with his brother, Balaram

It is also considered that it was on this day, when Lord Krishna, accompanied by Balaram, took Subhadra - his sister, for a ride on a chariot to show the city's splendour. Devotees in Dwarika thus celebrate this day by taking out statutes of the three beloved on Chariots.

Once Lord Krishna's queens requested mother Rohini to narrate the many interesting amorous episodes (ras lilas) of Lord Krishna with the Gopis. Rohini, considering it improper of Subhadra to hear such episodes, sent her away. Still, the Vrajkatha soon absorbed Subhadra along with Krishna and Balram, who by now had appeared on the scene. While they were completely engrossed with the stories, Narad arrived. On finding the siblings standing together motionless, he prayed, "May the three of you grant darshan in this manner forever." The boon was granted. And the three forever reside in the Puri Temple of the Lord Jagannath.

There is another story of Lord Krishna becoming the Sarathi (charioteer) of Arjuna's Chariot, during the 18-day battle of the Mahabharata.

When Shri Krishna was being cremated in Dwarika, Balaram was overwhelmed with the sadness of Lord Krishna's departure. He rushed out to drown himself into ocean with Krishna's partially cremated body. He was followed by Subhadra. At the same time, on the eastern shore of India, King Indradyumna of Jagannath Puri dreamt that the Lord's body would float up to the Puri's shores. He also dreamt that he should build a massive statue in the city and sanctify the wooden statues of Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra. The asthi (bones) of Lord Krishna's body would be put in the hollowed back of the statues. The dream came true and Indradyumna  found the splinters of asthi (bones) and took them. But he didn't know who would carve the statues. It is believed that the Gods' architect, Vishwakarma, arrived as an old carpenter. He agreed to make statues on the condition that while carving the statues nobody should disturb him and if he was disturbed, he would vanish leaving the work unfinished. Some months passed and Indradyumna lost his patience. He opened the door of Vishwakarma's room. Vishwakarma disappeared immediately as per his warning. Despite the unfinished statues, the King sanctified them; placing Lord Krishna's holy cinders in the hollow of the statue and installed them in the temple. A majestic procession is carried out with the statues of Lord Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra, every year, in three gigantic Chariots. The Statues are changed every 12 years, the new ones being incomplete also.

Events

• Chandan Yatra - The first phase of the Rituals is known as the Chandan Yatra. The Chalanti Pratimas (moving statues) of the Deities take a ceremonial ride in a boat in Narendra Tank for 21 consecutive days, after a refreshing bath in fragrant sandal wood (chandan) scented water.

• Snana Yatra - This is followed by Snana Yatra, literally the Festival of bath, in which the three are taken to Snana Badi, a bathing platform where the Deities are ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of water. After which the Gods are believed to convalesce inside the sanctum sanctorum and undergo treatment in which special ayurvedic medicine and some special liquid diet (sarapana) is offered to them. Closed to public view, during this period of 15 days, the pilgrims have to be satisfied with a darshan (sighting) of images on the Pattachitra paintings hanged there.

• Pre Yatra Ritual - The Ratha Yatra in Puri actually takes place during the full moon of the following month, Asadha (June/July) in a spectacular riot of colour and noise. The Chariots give the impression of a Temple Sanctuary because of their design. Loud gongs announce the boarding of the Deities onto the Chariots with the arrival of the Raja (King) of Puri accompanied by bejewelled elephants. The Raja sweeps the chariot with a golden bloom, fulfilling his role as the sevaka (servant) of the Gods, a gesture symbolizing humility and equality with all castes.

• The Yatra - The procession is led by Balabhadra's Chariot, followed by Subhadras with the Lord Jagannath's bringing up the rear, dragged by about 4000 honored devotees to their garden house, the Gundicha Ghar. On the way, Deities are treated to special Cake, Podapitha offered at the shrine of goddess Aradhamsini (aunt or masi) of Lord Jagannath. Once the Chariots reach Gundicha Ghar of Mandir, the Deities give darshan to devotees every day. After a rest of eight days, they return to Jagannath Temple with a similar procession.

• End of Yatra - After the Festival, the Raths are broken and bits are used for firewood in the kitchens or sold to pilgrims as relics. New Chariots are made each year to rigid specifications of make laid down in Temple's ancient manuals.

• Celebrations amongst people - People decorate their houses and shops with flowers, lights and rangolis for the Festival. Traditional desserts and sweets are especially prepared for the occasion. It is also customary to refrain from non- vegetarian food during these days.

• Yatra in Foreign Countries - The Ratha Jatra Festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement. Its leader A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada successfully transplanted the festival which now happens on an annual basis in places all over the world in over 100 cities including Dublin, Belfast, Birmingham, London, Budapest, Melbourne, Montreal, Paris, New York, Singapore, Toronto, Antwerp, and Venice, CA. The Rathajatra in Dhamrai, Bangladesh  is one of the most important in Bangladesh.

Alternate Names - Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra.

Holiday Status - It is a Regional Holiday.