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Come June-July and it is Rath Yatra time in Orissa. One of the most marvellous festivals of India, the Rath Yatra is the grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri when the dieties of Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are taken out in a procession. Rath Yatra is celebrated in the month of Asadha, on the second day of the lunar fortnight that falls during June-July. This year’s Rath Yatra is on July 4, 2008.
The deities are brought out of the temple to the chariots accompanied by the rhythmic movement called 'Pahandi' which literally involves a step by step forward movement to the accompaniment of devotees sounding traditional musical instruments like the ghanta, kahali and telingi baja.
In the first phase of the rituals, the Chandan Yatra, the representative images of the presiding deities are taken out in colourful processions and given a ceremonial boat ride in the Narendra tank for 21 days. The Sananjatra or the bathing festival is observed on full moon day of Jyestha (June) when the three deities are taken to Snana Badi, a bathing platform and ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of water. After the bathing festival, the deities spend 15 days in symbolic and ritual convalescence. After that they are repainted and prepared for the Nava Jaubana Darshana which is a celebration of the renewal of youth. Thousands of devotees participate in this festival and throng the temple to catch a glimpse of the idols which typically begins in the afternoon and lasts late into the night.
On the second day of Asadha, the deities are taken on a journey of around 3 km in stupendous and decorated chariots. After seating the idols, the King of Puri cleans the chariot platform with a golden broom. The grand moment and the climax of the day’s celebration is reached when the chariot of Lord Jagannatha, Nandighosha, starts its spectacular journey to the Gundicha Temple. The chariot of Lord Balabhadra is pulled first followed by that of goddess Subhadra. Thousands of devotees who patiently wait the whole day for this blessed moment are ecstatic with joy and pull the chariots with a sense of fulfillment. The return journey or 'Bahuda Yatra' of the deities takes place a week later.
Millions of devotees from all over the world flock to Puri to take part in the Rath Yatra, as they believe that a glimpse of Lord Jagannatha in his chariot gives salvation. In terms of splendour and fervent devotion, the car festival is one of the world's most incredible spectacles. The chariots are constructed anew every year in accordance with strict and ancient specifications.
Getting there: Puri is 60 km from Bhubaneswar Airport and well connected by air, rail and road networks.
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