Also referred to as the Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra or Dasavatara Jatra, the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra, the most important festival of Lord Jagannath, starts on 21st June 2012, and lasts 10 days in the beach-city of Puri which is about 65 kms south of the Odisha State Capital – Bhubaneshwar. Puri ranks one of the top places in India for Hindu pilgrimage and religious tourism.
This
Rath Yatra is one of the most colourful, elaborate and grand Hindu festivals in
India which attracts millions of devotees from all over India as well as abroad
as this Yatra occurs just once a year and because this Darshan is considered
very auspicious.
The
Yatra comprises one of the largest processions of the world with millions of
people pulling and following 50-foot high ornate and decorated wooden chariots on
which Lord Jagannath – the Lord of the Universe, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess
Subhadra are paraded throughout the city to give Darshan to all their Devotees.
It is said that those who participate in the Jagannath Yatra in Puri earn their
‘passage’ to heaven.
For
15 days prior to the Yatra, 'Snana Pumima' marks the beginning of the Jagannath
festival, when the three deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi
Subhadra are given a bath post which they are left in isolation for 15 days -
called the period of 'Anabasara' when no public worship is performed. Post 15
days of isolation, the Gods and the Goddess are brought out of the 11th
Century-built Jagannath temple in a colourful and musical procession amidst
thousands of devotees to board their respective Chariots and then begins the "Rath
Yatra'.
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| Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra Chariots being constructed. |
The
Chariots of the Rath Yatra deserve a special mention. The 3 towering and royal chariots
resemble Lord Jagannath Temple architecture. Lord Jagannath Chariot, which is
called the ‘nandighose’ is 35 feet high and has 18 solid wheels to move this
heavy chariot. Lord Balabhadra’s chariot – ‘Taladwaja’ is 33 feet high and has
16 wheels and Goddess Shubhadra’s Chariot – ‘Devadalan’ is 30 feet high and has
14 wheels. New chariots are made each year but with the same ancient chariot-specifications.
Thousands of devotees pull the chariots by long ropes and thousands struggle to
merely touch the Chariot or pull the rope as it is considered lucky and prosperous
for the devotee.
The
whole Rath Yatra festival of millions surrounding the 3 deities in a large
procession amidst loud beating of percussion instruments, gongs and blowing
conch shells is a fascinating experience even for non-Hindus and is also the
only chance for non-Hindus to see these 3 deities as non-Hindu devotees aren’t
allowed into the Jagannath Temple.
As
millions of pilgrim and tourists flood the Puri streets during these 10 days,
visitors are to take extreme precautions when on the streets as people and
lives are known to be lost in the stampede.
Pix courtesy: The Hindu, Amritasinha, Ludhianatravels.
