Rath Yatra: The Lord’s sojourn

India’s largest festival. The occasion that has always coincided with heavy monsoon showers. Rath Yatra, best known as the festival of chariots is held on Ashadh Shukla Dwitiya of the Vikram Samvat—the Hindu Calendar. It is said, that on this day Lord Jagannath along with his older brother Balaram and younger sister Subhadra travel to their aunt’s home—Gundicha temple. The trio stays there for 9 days before returning home. According to legends, Jagannath at this time, gets high fever and visits his maternal aunt. The Puri temple stays closed for a week before Rath Yatra as visitors are not allowed to meet the ailing Lord.

Rath Yatra is the only festival where the deity is escorted out of the temple. Every year 3 new chariots—the 16 wheeled Nandigosha, 14 wheeled Taladhwaja and 12 wheeled Padmadhwaja for Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra respectively.

The Rath Yatra is telecast live on national television each year as it is a colossal festival with crores of devotees present at Puri. On the day of the procession, the deities are placed on the chariots. The royal successor of Orissa then cleans the road for the procession to begin with a Golden mop and sandalwood is sprinkled behind him. This is called the Chehra Pahara.

The deities stay at the Gundicha temple for the next 9 days. The way back home is called Bahuda Yatra. On the Bahuda Yatra, the chariots stop at the Mausi Maa temple where the deities are offered Poda Pitha, a sweet delicacy.

Rath Yatra is an occasion of frolic for children too. They run along the road with miniature rath, racing with each other in content. The festival is celebrated in the eastern India, mainly Odisha but also in other eastern states like West Bengal and Jharkhand. Rath Yatra is a gargantuan commemoration at Odisha. The Jagannath temple cooks the Mahaprasad, for over 1 lakh people at a time. Never has a morsel of food been wasted at the Jagannath mandir. The temple kitchen is the largest functioning community kitchen in the world.

Lakhs of devotees are witness to the larger than life celebration of Rath Yatra. Its colors, the grandeur and customs are a view to behold. The ISKON Hare Krishna movement has helped bring Rath Yatra to 108 cities internationally, including New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Moscow and many more. The Rath Yatra is not only about tradition, it is also a symbol of belief; acceptance and brotherhood as the temple, on this day, is open to people of all castes and religions.

Highlights

• The Jagannath temple cooks the Mahaprasad, for over 1 lakh people at a time. The temple kitchen is the largest functioning community kitchen in the world
• According to legends, Jagannath before the day of Rath Yatra, gets high fever and visits his maternal aunt
• There has never been a Rath Yatra when it did not rain.
• The royal successor of Orissa then cleans the road for the procession to begin with a Golden mop and sandalwood is sprinkled behind him.