Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra2023-Rath Yatra Festival Date-Time-Rought Map-Rath Yatra History-Rath Yatra Celebration Puri-Rath Yatra Picture2023

Rath Yatra festival is celebrated every year on the second day of Ashadh Sud as per Hindu calendar. Jagannath RathYatra is primarily celebrated in the city of Puri, Odisha. The Jagannath temple located in Ahmedabad city also organizes the Rath Yatra each year. People from around the world and the country visit to watch the Rath Yatra live. There are huge chariots drawn in order to carry the Lords. The mere sight of this whole celebration is a blessing in itself. This year the Jagannath Rath Yatra in India will be celebrated on June 20, 2023.

Rath Yatra Festival Date-Time 

According to the Hindu calendar, Rath Yatra is observed on the second day of Ashadha month i.e., late June or early July. In ancient literature, this day is referred to as ‘Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya’. In 2023, Rath Yatra will take place on 20 June (Tuesday).

Rath Yatra Date: June 20, 2023, Tuesday
Dwitiya Tithi Begins: 11:25 AM on Jun 19, 2023
Dwitiya Tithi Ends: 01:07 PM on Jun 20, 2023

Looking for auspicious timings of the day, refer to Panchang!  

 Rath Yatra Rought Map Jagannath Puri Orissa 

Option 1:There is a smooth network of roads in Orissa which connects it to all the major cities of the country and the nearby towns of the state.

Option 2:One can even reach Puri via rail as the railway station at Puri is linked to all the important cities in India with regular trains. The railway station of the town is also very easily accessible from the main town area.

Option 3:Incase you want to go by air, fly to Bhubaneswar (56kms from Puri). Bhubaneswar is the main connecting point between Puri and other Indian destinations. Travel to Puri by surface. Check into a hotel in Puri.

Next day get up early in the morning and get ready to participate in Rath Yatra by 6 am.

Note:Lots of pilgrims and tourists come to Puri at the time of Rath Yatra. To make yourself free from the hurdles of accommodation, book your hotel in advance. Toshali Sands in Puri is a four star resort which arranges full tours for Rath Yatra-including transfer to any hotel accommodation from airport/railway station, Sightseeing of Rath Yatra and other places to visit in Puri.  

 Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra History

 Ratha Yatra is the most popular and anticipated festival of the year in Odisha and means the festival (yatra) of the chariots (ratha).

The observance of the Ratha Yatra of Jagannath dates back to the twelfth century. Descriptions of the festival can be found in key Hindu texts such as Brahma Purana, Padma Purana and Skanda Purana.

Jagannath literally means 'Lord of the Universe' and is a deity worshipped in regional traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism in India and Bangladesh. Jagannath is considered a form of Vishnu by Hindus.

The idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are usually worshipped in the sanctum of the Jagannath temple, but once a year during the month of Ashadha, they are brought out to travel three kilometres to the Gundicha Temple, in three huge chariots, drawn by hundreds of people.

In the past, it was not unknown for people to throw themselves under the wheels of the chariots to attain salvation.The chariot for Jagannath is  14 metres (45 feet) high and 11 metres (35 feet) square. It takes about two months to construct. The artists and painters of Puri decorate the chariots in bright colours with religious motifs. The chariot of Jagannath is the etymological origin of the English word 'juggernaut'.

The chariots stay in the Gundicha Temple for a week before being brought back to the Jagannath Temple via the Mausi Maa Temple, where the deities are ceremoniously offered poda pitha, a kind of baked cake which is usually only eaten by the poorest in society.

Needless to say, the city of Puri grinds to a standstill on Ratha Yatra and a week later on the return journey.

Other Ratha Yatra festivals take place in other parts of India and also in Bangladesh, but Puri remains the oldest and grandest. Since the late 1960s, Ratha Yatra festivals have taken place in many cities across the globe, due to the promotion by the Hare Krishna movement.

The popularity of this Hindu festival is bolstered by followers of other religions who participate to get the blessings of Lord Jagannath.

Rath Yatra Celebration in Jagannath Puri

Three huge colourfully decorated chariots, which resemble the temple structures, are drawn through Puri's streets. This festival commemorates Lord Jagannath, Balarama, and sister Subhadra's annual journey to Gundicha Temple, their aunt's temple, located two kilometres away from their temple. Non-Hindus and foreigners usually don't get to enter the temple premises on usual days, but on these days, the other devotees get an opportunity to see the deities.

During the festival, millions of devotees, not only from India, but from all over the World, come to Puri to help pulling the Lords' chariot, which is considered as a pious deed. During this huge procession, devotional songs are played on the chariots with tambourines, drums, trumpets and many more instruments. The carts are approximately 45 feet (14 metres) high. Thousands of pilgrims pull these chariots, which are newly built each year from a particular tree. This festival is broadcasted live on several Indian and foreign television channels.

This festival has various names like Ghosa Jatra, Gundicha Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra, Navadina Jatra and many more. The ritual of Jatra, which mean a journey or travel, is very essential for Hindus to worship. In south the temple's representative deities are popularly called as Utsava Murti and in Orissa they are known as Bije Pratima or Chalanti Pratima. The Jatra takes place in two forms- One involves short circumbulation that has to be around the temple and other involves a journey longer from the location of the temple to another destination. Jatras are considered very important and sacred for every festival and ceremony. Jagannatha Rath Yatra is one of the most unique and grandest festivals compared to other Jatras.

Famous Oriya songs are sung during the festival which says that the wheels, the grand avenue and the chariots become one on this occasion with Lord Jagannatha. People wait for the Jatra for the whole year in order to get just one glimpse of Lord Jagannatha.

Rath Yatra Picture2023

 

Related Links 

Know About Rath Yatra or Chariot festival significance, history and celebrations

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Jagannath Puri rath Yatra : All Information to know about Schedule, Ceremony and Rituals of festival  

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Jagannath Puri rath Yatra : All Information to know about Schedule, Ceremony and Rituals of festival

Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the most awaited and much-celebrated festival in Orissa as well as countrywide. It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath i.e. 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 celebrated every year in the month of June or July. For this, the Puri Rath Yatra sees 4-5 lakh pilgrims every year. Indians, as well as foreigners, flock in large numbers to get a glimpse of the idols in the chariot. It is believed that those who manage to get a glimpse of the idols will have a prosperous year ahead.

The Yatra begins when three richly decorated chariots resembling temple structures are pulled through the streets of Badadanda in Puri. Devotees from all over the world assemble in Puri with an earnest desire to help pull the Lords' chariots along with the priests and their fellow devotees. This is considered to be a pious deed, and people even risk their lives in the huge crowd for the chance to serve the Lord. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises, such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets and other such instruments, making this procession a vibrant affair. The Ratha carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands who congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad.

Snana Mandal ceremony of Rath Yatra

So, this is the month of the sacred Chariot festival or the Jagannath Puri Rath yatra and the preparations are in full swing. Though the main festival lasts for a week but the celebrations take complete one month and Snana Mandal is a major ceremony before the Rath Yatra commences. The ritual, a prelude to the annual Rath Yatra on July 14 2018.

Schedule of Snana Mandal ceremony prior to the Rath Yatra

Deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra would begin at about 4 am and would be completed by 6 am. It will be followed by their bathing in 108 pitchers of aromatic water would begin by 9.30 am. The Snana ritual likely to be completed by 12 noon After Chhera Pahanra, Trinity would be dressed in ‘Hati Besha’. Public would be allowed darshan from behind barricades till late in the night. Deities will retire to sick room for fortnight after the ritual.

Beginning of the Chariot festival from Jagannath temple

This year the yatra is to begin on June 25 where Lord Jagannath with siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be taken in three giant chariots to the Gundicha temple for their fun filled week long stay. Located about three km away from the Jagannath Temple at the end of Bada Danda or the Grand Avenue, Gundicha Temple is named after Queen Gundicha, the wife of King Indradyumna who built the Puri Jagannath Temple.

Importance of significance of Chariot festival or Jagannath Yatra

It is believed that when Krishna was being cremated in Dwarka, his elder brother Balrama was so much in grief that he jumped in the ocean with Krishna’s partially cremated body. Subhadra, their sister too followed him. At the same time, King Indradyumna of Jagannath Puri had a vivid dream where he learnt that he will find the lord’s body floating on the shores of Puri and that he should build a grand temple to house the three deities inside it. And his dream did come true as he found the bones of Krishna who is also Jagannath in Puri and he built a temple after the murtis of the two brothers and sister were carved by Vishwakarma, the architects of the gods.

Scenario at the Chariot festival in Jagannath, Puri

The chariots are huge wooden vehicles made to resemble the temples. Decorated as per rituals followed for centuries, each of the chariots has a name of its own. While the Lord travels on his Nandighosa, Lord Balabhadra’s vehicle is called Taladhwaja and chariot of Goddess Subhadra is known as Dwarapadalana or the ‘trampler of pride’. Multitudes turn out to join the Lord in his sojourn and keep him company during the days of the festival. It is the only time when non-Hindus can get a glimpse or touch the Lord as non-Hindus are barred from entry into the temple.

 About Chariots or Raths

Undoubtedly, the chariots or 'Raths' are the focal point of the procession in Puri. There are three main chariots carrying three deities that are a part of the celebration. All the three chariots are made of wood and decorated by local artists. Lord Jagannath's chariot is the biggest of the three having 16 massive wheels and a height of 44 feet. While Lord Balabhadra's chariot has 14 wheels and a height of 43 feet followed by Goddess Subhadra's chariot having 12 wheels and a height of 42 feet.

The first one of them is the Nandighosa Rath, which is the holy seat of Lord Jagannath himself who is accompanied by Lord Madan Mohan. The wagon is guarded by Garuda while the charioteer is Daruka. This Ratha stands out with its yellow and red decorative clothing as these are the favourite colours of the Lord. This Ratha is also called Garuda dhwaja Ratha or Kapila Ratha. Other deities in this chariot include Varaha, Gobardhan, Krishna, Gopi Krishna, Nursingha, Rama, Narayan, Trivikrama, Hanuman and Rudra.

The second Ratha is the Taladhwaja Rath and the presiding deity of this chariot is Lord Bala Bhadra. The accompanying deity is Lord Rama Krishna, and this wagon is embellished with red and blue-green clothes. Basudev stands guarding this chariot, while the charioteer is Matali. Other deities in this Ratha include Ganesh, Sheshadeva, Mukteswar, Natamvara, Mrutyunjaya, Hatayudha, Pralambar, Sarvamangala and Kartikeya.

Smallest of the three chariots is the Darpadalana Ratha which belongs to Lord Jagannath's sister Goddess Subhadra. Adorned with red and black colour clothes, this chariot is guarded Jayadurga and the charioteer is Arjuna. This Ratha also carries Vimala, Mangala, Shyamakali, Varahi, Shulidurga, Vanadurga, Ugratara, Chamunda and Chandi.

Return journey of Lord Jagannath

On their return journey, the trio stops at the Mausi Maa Temple or the shrine dedicated to their aunt. Situated mid-way on the Bada Danda or the Grand Avenue in front of the Jagannath Temple, the Mausi Maa temple is dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini. During their brief stopover at Mausi Maa temple, the three deities partake of an offering called ‘Poda Pitha’, a kind of pancake favoured by the Lord and generally eaten by the poor.

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