One of the most-awaited festivals in the state of Odisha as well as in India, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is soon approaching. Based around the worship of Lord Jagannath, a reincarnation of lord Vishnu and Krishna, this festival commemorates his annual visit to his birthplace, Gundicha Temple, and aunt’s home along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra.
Rath Yatra is organised in the city of Puri, Odisha every year. It is believed that every 12 months, Lord Jagannath wishes to visit his birthplace Mathura for a few days and to fulfil this desire of his, this Yatra is conducted each year from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple.
Every year, the Rath Yatra festival begins with the idols of Lord Jagannath, along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, being taken out of their abode in the Jagannath Temple. The three of them travel to Gundicha Temple, where they remain for seven days before returning via Mausi Maa Temple, the abode of Lord Jagannath’s aunt, where the deities are served Poda Pitha, a sweet pancake. It is believed that this pancake is the poor man’s food and the Lord is fond of it.
The idols are transported on towering chariots, which have been made to resemble temples, giving the festival its name of Rath Yatra – the Chariot Festival. These chariots are the prime attractions of the festival. There are three main chariots, pulled by hands using long ropes, which are 50 meters in length. It is believed that pulling this rope is like adding to your good Karma, and doing penance for your bad deeds.
Around one million pilgrims usually flock to this colourful event. Jagannath Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival is known to be one of the oldest and also the grandest procession festival, which is celebrated every year in India. Everything is on a scale befitting. Full of spectacle, drama and colour, the festival is a typical Indian fair of huge proportions. It is also the living embodiment of the synthesis of the tribal, the folk, and the sophisticated elements of the socio-cultural-religious ethos of the Indian civilization.
