The Rath Yatra (The Car Festival)

The Rath Yatra (The Car Festival)

This year Rath Yatra, one of the most auspicious Hindu Festival was celebrated on 16th July 2007. Though Rath Yatra, also known as Car Festival to the western world is celebrated in various places both in India and abroad, it is unique in its place of origin at Puri in the state of Orissa. This year over 8 lakh people witnessed Rath Yatra at Puri as the idols of Lord Jagannatha, his brother Lord Balabhadra and Sister Devi Shubhadra began journey to Gundicha temple on their chariots. Lord Jagannath meaning Lord of Universe comes out of the main temple and goes to the Gundicha temple,supposed to be the birth place of Lord and en-route "He" pays visit to all his disciples. This is a unique concept where in God, himself comes out to enquire about the wellbeing of His children that is mankind as a whole. Secondly He, by this journey, highlights the importance of homecoming particularly when you make it along with your siblings. This homecoming of Lord lasts for nine days after which they return to the main temple and this return journey is known as Bahura Yatra or Return Car Festival.

Descriptions of chariots

Chariot of Lord Jagannatha: Nandighosha/Garudadhwaja/Kapidhwaja.

No. of wheels: 16

No. of wooden pieces used: 832

Height: 13.5 meter

Length: 10.52 meter

Breadth: 10.52 meter

Color of cloth wrappings: Red and Yellow

Chariot of Lord Balabhadra:Taladhwaja.

No. of wheels: 14

No. of wooden pieces used: 763

Height: 13.2 meter

Length: 10.06 meter

Breadth: 10.06 meter

Color of cloth wrappings: Red and Blue.

Chariot of Sister Subhadra:Darpadalan/Padmadhwaja.

No. of wheels: 12

No. of wooden pieces used: 593

Height: 12.9 meter

Length: 9.6 meter

Breadth: 9.6 meter.

Color of cloth wrappings: Red and Black.

Sequence of the Rath Yatra.

Divine procession (Pahandi Bije): The deities are brought out of the temple to ride the chariots by rhythmic movements called Pahandi in a royal procession. Beats of cymbals and drums and chanting of prayers by devotees are the most prominent features of this ritual.

Sweeping of chariots (Chhera Pahanra): After deities are installed on their respective chariots, the traditional King of Puri sweeps the chariots with a golden broom, which is known as Chhera Pahanra. Though the kingship is not in practice in India, here the offspring of erstwhile king of Puri carries out the responsibility to honor the tradition. This public demonstration of king carrying out a sweeper's job signifies a sense of equality and eradicates the narrowness and low status attached to certain jobs.

Pulling of chariots(Rath Tana):The most exciting part of Rath Yatra is the pulling of Chariots by thousands of devotees to the Gundicha temple, which is about 3 K.M. from the main temple.

Return journey (Bahura Yatra): The deities remain in Gundicha temple for 9 days and all rites are performed as it is in main Jagannath temple. On the 9th day the Return journey or the Bahura Yatra of the deities commences in the same manner from Gundicha temple to the main temple.

 

 

 

JAGANNATH TEMPLE AT PURI, ORISSA.