Jagannath Rathyatra

On the second day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Ashadha, a grand procession of Lord Jagannath takes place, in which Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Lord Krishna are seated. A large chariot is decorated, and all the devotees travel from Puri in Odisha to the Gundicha Temple. On the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha, all the devotees pull the chariot from the Jagannath Temple located in Puri, Odisha, to the Gundicha Temple, which is five kilometers away. The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for seven days, and on the ninth day of the journey, they are brought back to their abode. The procession begins on the second day of Ashadha, and on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, the deities are brought back to their abode. According to the Puranas, the entire journey from the start of the procession to the entry into the temple lasts nine days. Therefore, this festival is considered significant for nine days.

In preparation for this journey, people beautifully decorate the route of the procession. On this day, all the devotees worship Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Lord Krishna and place them on grand chariots. While the Jagannath Yatra is now celebrated across various parts of India, it is primarily organized in Puri, Odisha. On the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha, all devotees ceremoniously place Lord Krishna, Balabhadra, and Subhadra on the chariots and, after proper worship, proceed with a grand celebration from Jagannath Dham to Gundicha Temple. They engage in hymns, kirtans, and prayers. As a result of this devotion, they enjoy happiness on Earth and eventually go to reside in Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu.

Preparation for Rath Yatra

On the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha, three chariots are prepared. The chariot of Lord Krishna has the flag of 'Garudadhwaj', the chariot of Subhadra bears the 'Kamal' (lotus) symbol, and the chariot of Balabhadra has the flag with the symbol of a 'Plough'. Lord Krishna's chariot has sixteen wheels and is sixteen hands long. Subhadra's chariot has twelve wheels and is twelve hands long, while Balabhadra's chariot has fourteen wheels and is fourteen hands long. All three chariots are beautifully decorated. No nails or thorns are used in the decoration of the chariots.

During the procession, some people sing auspicious songs, some chant slogans and mantras, and some fan the deities from both sides. Various musical instruments are played, and in this beautiful celebration, Lord Krishna, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are slowly placed on the chariots. Then the deities are adorned with beautiful clothes, jewelry, and garlands, and worshipped with many rituals. Those who get the opportunity to see Lord Jagannath during the procession are believed to reside in the abode of the Lord. The noble people dance and sing during the journey, chanting the names of the Lord as they go along with the procession. This way, the Jagannath Yatra is celebrated every year.

The arrival of the Rath Yatra from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple

When the Jagannath Yatra, starting from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, reaches the Gundicha Temple, the deities reside there for seven days. During their stay, the deities are bathed with various substances and worshipped. Devotees guard the chariots for seven days. On the eighth day, they turn the chariots southwards, perform worship, and then place the deities back on the chariots, returning them to where the journey began. The deities remain seated on the chariots, and they are worshipped there until the day of Ekadashi when they are established back in their abode, and the chariots are dismantled on the same day.

Significance of the Jagannath Rath Yatra

Any devotee who sees Lord Krishna, Balabhadra, and Subhadra seated on the chariot during the Jagannath Rath Yatra is believed to destroy the sins of millions of lifetimes. A devotee who accompanies the procession and, upon reaching Gundicha Nagar, looks at Lord Krishna and chants His praises, is said to never suffer the pain of rebirth. A devotee who stands in front of the chariot and fans or offers flower bouquets to the deities attains salvation and reaches Brahmaloka. Upon reaching the destination, the deities reside there for seven days. During these seven days, any devotee who has the darshan of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra becomes supremely purified and reaps the benefits of all holy pilgrimages. A devotee who performs worship, offerings, aarti, and prayers properly while the deities stay there is believed to reside in the abode of Lord Vishnu.

The main purpose of the Jagannath Yatra is to promote devotion to the Lord, social unity, and communal celebration. Thousands of devotees participate in this yatra, which features various cultural programs, exhibitions, and religious events. The Jagannath Yatra holds a significant place in Indian social and religious traditions and is celebrated with great reverence.