Ratha Yatra Lord Jagannath

Rath Yatra Lord Jagannath

Rath Yatra, the festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannath is celebrate each year at Puri, the temple town in Orissa, on the East Coast of India. July 4 and ends on July 15.

The presiding deities of the main temple, Sri Mandira, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel Sudarshana are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to their respective chariots.

The huge, colourfully decorate chariots, are drawn by hundreds and thousands of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha temple, some two miles away to the North. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode in Srimandira

Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is one among the most awaited and much-celebrated festivals in orissa as well as countrywide. It is dedicate to Lord Jagannath

Lord Krishna, his sister goddess Subhadra and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra.

Commonly known as Gundicha Yatra, Dasavatara, Chariot Festival or Navadina Yatra, it is celebrate every year in the month of June or July.

For this, the Puri Rath Yatra sees 4-5 lakh pilgrims each year. Indians, as well as foreigners, flock in large numbers to get a glimpse of the idols in the chariot.

It is believe that those who manage to get a glimpse of the idols will have a prosperous year ahead. This year it is going to be on Thursday 4th July 2019.

What Are the Rath Yatra Ritual Dates for 2019?

Sri Gundicha: July 4

Placement of the deities in the chariots and journey to Gundicha Temple.

The first chariot to move is that of Lord Balabhadra.

Next is Subhadra’s, and last Lord Jagannath’s. Pulling of the chariots starts at 4 p.m. after the relevant rituals have been completed.

Hera Panchami: July 8

Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Jagannath, gets concerned because he hasn’t come back.

Irritated, she goes to Gundicha Temple to find him and see what is going on.

Devotees carry the deity in a palanquin to the temple.

Bahuda Yatra: July 12

The grand return journey to the Lion’s Gate entrance of Jagannatha Temple. The chariots are draw in reverse order, commencing from 4 p.m.

Suna Besha: July 13

Decoration of the deities in gold ornaments. This ritual was introduce during the reign of king Kapilendra debutante in 1430 and is especially well-like. It happens in the evening, with viewing possible from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Niladri Bijaya: July 15

Deities are place back inside Jagannath Temple.

Interesting Information About Lord Jagannath

The idol of Lord Jagannath doesn’t have any arms and legs. Do you know why? Apparently, it was carve out of wood by a carpenter after the Lord come to the King in a dream and instruct him to get the idol made. If anyone saw the idol before it was finished, the work would not progress any further.

The King became impatient and took a peek, and also the idol remains incomplete.

Some people say that Jagannath’s imperfection expresses the imperfection all around us and that it’s a reminder to be kind to those who are different from us.

What Rituals are Perform During the Festival?

The creation of new idols and destruction of the old idols symbolizes reincarnation.
Devotional songs and prayers from the Vedas are chant continuously outside the area where the new idols are being carve from the neem wood.

Once they’re complete, the new idols are carry inside the inner sanctum of the temple and place facing the old idols.

The supreme power (Brahma) is then transfer from the old to the new idols, in a ritual known as Brahma Paribartan (Changing the Soul).

This ritual is carriy out in privacy. The priest performing the ritual is blindfold, and his hands and feet are wrap in thick layers of cloth, so that he can’t see or feel the transfer.
Once the ritual is complete, the new idols are seat on their throne.

The previous idols are take to Koili Baikuntha and bury there in an exceedingly scare ceremony before dawn. It’s same that if anybody sees this ceremony, apart from the priests who perform it, they will die.

As a result, the state government orders a full blackout of lights in Puri on the night the ceremony is perform. Afterwards, the temple rituals recommence as normal.

Flowers and new garments are give to the deities, food is offer, and pujas (worship) are perform.

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