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Jagannath Rath Yatra

ByULF TEAM

Jun 21, 2023 #Culture
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One of India’s biggest religious festivals, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is being celebrated in the country.

Key details:

  • Also known as the ‘Festival of Chariots’, this occasion begins in the month of Ashadha.
  • The festival signifies the annual visit of Lord JagannathBalaram, and Subhadra to the Gundicha temple in Odisha.
  • Every year, the Rath Yatra takes place for nine days and is known as the biggest chariot procession globally.

History

  • As per the holy Hindu scriptures–Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samhita–the sister of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, was said to have wished to travel to Puri.
  • To fulfill Devi Subhadra’s wish, Lord Jagannath and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra drove a chariot to Puri.
  • The pilgrimage from their home temple to another temple, which is believed to be their aunt’s home, has been symbolised by this festival.

Significance

  • This is the only festival in the world where deities are taken out of temples to travel to devotees.
  • The deities’ raths arrive at the Gundicha temple on the first day of the procession and stay there for the following days.
  • They go back to the Jagannath temple on the ninth day.
  • The three chariots carrying the deities are built and embellished in preparation to begin the yatra, and are constructed by expert carpenters known as ‘Maharana’.
  • Each of the chariots has its own name.
    • Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called Nandighosh,
    • Lord Balabhadra’s chariot is known as  Taladhwaja and
    • Devi Subhadra’s chariot is named Darpadalana.
  • These raths are carried by devotees and it is believed that being part of these celebrations brings prosperity and fulfillment of desires.
  • Lord Jagannath is considered the ‘Lord of the Universe’ according to Hindu scriptures.
  • He is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu and is deeply revered by the followers of Vaishnavism.
  • Meanwhile, Jagannath temple is one of the four Hindu pilgrimage centers known as Char Dham, which Hindus are expected to visit in their lifetime
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