Location :
Puri, Orissa
Falls On : The Bright Fortnight of Ashadha (June -
July)
Duration : 10 Days
Dates Back : 10th - 11th Century
Related Links: Jagannath Temple, Puri
Orissa is a land of innumerable fairs and festivals celebrated
round the year but the most spectacular of them is the
Rath Yatra, hitherto known as the Car Festival to western
world. This chariot procession on the main streets of
Ahmedabad city features a lot of colourful chariots, trucks
and other vehicles. The procession commemorates the journey of
lord Krishna to Mathura, leaving behind grieving Gopis. The
massive procession begins at Jagdish temple in Jamalpur. The
main chariots are dedicated to lord Krishna, his brother
Balaram and sister Subadhra, followed by colourfully decorated
elephants, trucks, motor vehicles, pilgrims on foot, acrobats
and gymnasts.
The Period of Yatra
Every year in July, the sacred coastal town of Puri comes
alive to celebrate the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath,
one of the biggest festivals during the monsoon season.
According to the Indian solar calendar, it falls two days
after the new moon day of the month of Asadh.
Legends and Rituals
The famous Car festival of Lord Jagannath falls on the
second day of bright fortnight of the month of Ashada when the
Lord with his brother and sister coming out from the 'Ratna
Sinhasan' to the streets of Puri joins His devotees while
visiting His birth place The Gundicha Ghar. After a stay of
nine days the return journey starts for the temple.
According to legend Lord Jagannath said to have expressed His
desire to visit His birthplace Gundicha Ghar once every year.
According to others Subhadra wanted to visit Dwarka, her
parents home therefore, her two brothers Jagannath and
Balabhadra took her there on this day. According to Bhagavad
Puran on this day. Krishna and Balaram went to Mathura on the
invitation of Kansa to participate in the competition.
The entire Ratha Yatra is a symbolic humanisation of God. All
rituals associated with the festival demonstrate an attempt to
bring the God down from His pedestal of glory to a more human
level. On the day of journey the three chariots the yellow
coloured Nandighosa, blue coloured Taladwaja and Deviratha are
lined up in front of the temple and then the deities are
brought on to their respective Chariots. Once the king of Puri
the living symbol of Lord Jagannath sweeps the chariots with
scented water and golden broom, the pilgrims lined up with the
rope pull the chariots on the Badadanda to Gundicha Ghar.
Regional Celebrations
Though this festival time is very special in India, the
main Rath Yatra takes place in the holy town of Puri. At
other places, those devotees of Lord Jagannath, who cannot
make it to Puri, take out similar processions on a much
smaller scale. Notable are the ones at Ramnagar (near
Varanasi), Serampore (near Calcutta) and
Jagannathpur (near Ranchi).
Places to Visit
Without doubt, the best place to visit during this festival
time is Puri, situated a few kilometers away from
Bhubaneshwar, the capital of the state of Orissa. This chariot
procession on the main streets of Ahmedabad city features a
lot of colourful chariots, trucks and other vehicles.
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