Rath Yatra : A Festival Of Faith, Fervour And Festivity

Rath Yatra is the only religious festival when the Lord himself comes out of his sanctum sanctorum (an exceedingly holy place within an already holy place) to bless the believers. Rath Yatra of Puri, Odisha, is one of the most awaited religious festivals in India. It is a vibrant and significant Hindu festival that is associated with Lord Jagannath, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Every year pilgrims from across the world reach Odisha (A state of India), where the iconic Rath Yatra takes place. It is believed that taking part in the celebratory Rath Yatra offers salvation.

Rath Yatra is celebrated annually in summer around June or July. It begins from the second date of Shukla Pakhya of Ashada month (The third month of the Bengali calendar) and continues for some following days. On the day of the Rath Yatra, people carry the idols of three deities, i.e., Lord Jagannath and his two siblings in individual chariots from Jagannath Puri Temple to Gundicha Temple. It is said that this is a journey from Lord Jagannath’s house to his maternal aunt’s house.

History of Puri Rath Yatra:

Talking about the history of Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra then, this was first started in 1150. The host of the festival was Ganga Dynasty. With time, the festival of Rath Yatra has become popular in the world, including in foreign countries. Devotees come to visit the Jagannath Puri Temple of Odisha to seek blessings from Lord Balaram, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra.

Rath Yatra has some historical pieces of evidence also. This festival is mentioned in the Purushottama Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Another piece of evidence is The Sukta Samhita, a text which deals with the secret rituals of Lord Jagannath and rituals between Jyesthi and Rath Yatra. Even Many Western cultured people have also described the festival in their books and magazines.

Jagannath Puri Temple:

The Jagannath Puri Temple is a sacred temple devoted to Lord Jagannath along with his siblings Lord Balaram and Devi Subhadra. This divine temple is situated in Puri of Odisha, on the eastern coast of India. The temple is one of the holiest Vaishnava Hindu Char Dham sites including Rameswaram, Badrinath, Puri, and Dwarka. 

Rath Yatra is the most famous and beautiful annual function of this temple. All three deities are devotedly brought out of the Garbhagriha of the main temple and placed in three individual chariots. Then the journey begins. Numerous people transport the chariots from this temple to the Shree Gundicha Temple, which is located around 3 kilometers away from the Jagannath Puri Temple. After spending seven days in the Gundicha Temple, the deities are then returned to the main temple. 

Rituals or events :

This festival is held through some noteworthy rituals or events. That is-

1. Chandan Yatra: 

   Chandan Yatra falls on Akshay Tritiya and is also known as Sandalwood Yatra. It continues for 42 days. This day marks the beginning of construction work for the chariots. And also marks the sowing of seeds by the farmers for the upcoming harvest.

2. Snana Yatra: 

   The Snana Yatra, is a bathing festival of deities celebrated on the purnima of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. This is the auspicious Birth Day of Lord Jagannath. On this special day, all three deities are brought out from the temple and taken to the Snana Bedi in a procession. There they are ceremonially bathed with 108 pots of water and then remain in symbolic and ritual convalescence for about two weeks.

   

3. Pahandi: 

   The Pahandi ritual marks the movement of the deities from the temple to the chariots. It symbolizing their readiness to embark on the grand procession. During Pahandi, the temple servitors, known as pandas, gently lifted and carried the idols of the deities in a synchronized manner. Then the pandas carefully navigate through the temple’s corridors. As they approach the chariots, they gradually increase their pace and create a rhythmic swaying motion called ‘Dahana’. This ritual continues until they are placed on their respective chariots.

   

4. Chhera Pahanra:

   This is an Odia word where ‘Chhera’ means sprinkling of holy water and ‘Pahanra’ means sweeping. Thus Chhera Pahanra is sweeping and sprinkling holy water. It is a very colorful and elaborate ritual. In this ritual, the King of Puri, Gajapati Divya Singh Deva is informed of the deities having taken place on their chariots through a messenger. The King, clad in spotless white, carried in a silver-plated palanquin leaves his palace. And comes in a small procession on the grand avenue led by a caparisoned elephant (dressed in heavy ornamental covering). He climbs one chariot after another and offers his prayers to the deity seated on the chariots. Then he cleans the chariot platforms with a golden broom and sprinkles flowers and fragrant water on the surface of the chariots.

   

5. Hera Panchami: 

   In the word Hera Panchami, ’Panchami’ means the fifth day, and ‘Hera’ means see. It is a famous Goddess Laxmi ritual and is celebrated on the fifth day of the Rath Yatra festival. On this day, the idol of Goddess Mahalaxmi leaves for Gundicha Temple in a well-decorated palanquin to meet Lord Jagannath. It is said that Goddess Laxmi gets angry with Lord Jagannath and vents her anger by causing damage to Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath.

6. Suna Besha: 

   It is also known as Rajarajeshwara Besha and is observed 5 times a year. During Rath Yatra, it is observed on Shukla Ekadashi Tithi. This ritual was started by King Kapilendra Deva. On this day, the three deities are adorned with nearly 208 kg of beautiful and intricate Gold Jewellery.

   

7. Niladri Bije: 

   ‘Niladri’ means Lord Jagannath and ‘Bije’ means to enter. So, on the whole, it means the homecoming ceremony of the deities. On this day Lord Jagannath along with his two siblings returns to the Sanctum Sanctorum (Ratna Bedi) and marks an end to the annual sojourn.The day holds an important significance as it portrays the heavenly love and affection between Lord Jagannath and his wife Goddess Laxmi. It is said that as Goddess Laxmi was angry with her husband Lord Jagannath, she did not allow him to enter the temple. Lord Jagannath offered Rasgulla (an Odiya sweet made by curdling milk) to appease her and then she allowed him to enter the main temple.

8. Brahma Paribartan: 

   The main idea of Jagannath Rath Yatra is reincarnation. To represent this, the temple’s old idols are torn down, and new ones are placed. This entire operation is carried out in complete secrecy. Even the priest who conducts the ceremony is blindfolded all through the ritual.

Chariots (Raths) of Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra:

The key focus of the Puri Rath Yatra is the massive chariots or raths in which the three deities travel. The three chariots are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. These are brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla. The logs are traditionally set afloat as rafts in the river Mahanadi. The construction of the raths is started by Akshay Tritiya Tithi and takes about one and a half months to complete the work. Only a certain group of carpenters who have inherited this trade have the right to construct these chariots. 

The three chariots are decorated as per the unique scheme followed for centuries. They are lined across the wide avenue in front of the temple close to its eastern entrance, called Sinhadwara (the Lion’s Gate).

Each of these chariots (raths) has four wooden horses and a charioteer (Sarathi). Very strong coconut ropes of 8 inches in diameter and 50 meters in length are attached to the chariots and are used by the devotees to pull the chariots. But the most important part is that each of these chariots has certain specific characteristics. The three chariots are-

• The Chariot of Lord Balaram- TALADHWAJA: 

  Taladhwaja, also known as Langaladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag named Unnani. This chariot is decorated with a covering of red and bluish-green cloth. The chariot is forty-four feet and three inches in height and has fourteen wheels, each seven-foot diameter. Matali is the charioteer of Taladhwaja and the name of the chariot rope is Basuki Naga. 

• The Chariot of Lord Jagannath- NANDIGHOSHA: 

  This is the largest chariot with forty-four feet and two inches height and sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. Garudadhwaja and Kapidhwaja are another name of the chariot. The easiest way to identify Lord Jagannath’s chariot is by the color of the covering of the chariot. It has a yellow and red color canopy and also prominently displays the Sudarshana Chakra emblem. Daruka is the charioteer of this chariot. The flag of Nandighosha is Trailokyamohini, which means ‘the one who enchants the three worlds’, and the chariot rope is known as Sankhachuda Naguni. The face of the chariot is called Nandi Mukha and the weapons are Sankha and Chakra. Jaya and Vijaya are the gatekeepers of Nandighosha.

• The Chariot of Devi Subhadra- DARPADALANA: 

  Darpadalana is also known as Padmadhwaja and Devadalana. It has a flag named Nadambika, which means ‘The one who gives joy’. The chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth, while black is traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess. Darpadalana is forty-two feet and three inches high and has twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. The charioteer is Arjuna, a famous character of Mahabharata, and the chariot rope is known as Swarnachuda Nagini.

As the grand journey begins from the Jagannath Puri Temple, the chariot of Lord Balaram is pulled, followed by Goddess Subhadra, and that of Lord Jagannath at last.

Importances of Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra:

The rath yatra is still celebrated in many places in India and also throughout the globe. But the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra makes another place in the devotee’s heart. In Odisha, it is a depiction of rich religious and cultural heritage. Also, it is a sign of peace, harmony, and fraternity. People from all religious sects can witness this event. Every devotee wants to be a part of the grand procession irrespective of who they are. Pulling the cart symbolizes clearing the mind and surrendering to the supreme. Besides all these, the Rath Yatra also helps to boost the tourism and economy of Odisha, a state in India.