Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri.

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 21^st 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 11^th 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'.

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.

Amarnathji Yatra 2012.

The toughest Yatra of them all – the Amarnath Yatra – the Hindu Annual Pilgrimage of Lord ‘Shiva Linga’ is here, beckoning all the strong-willed on a spiritual journey all the way up to13,000 feet altitude to the 130-foot high Amarnath Cave where the ice Shiva Linga naturally forms every year. The Amarnath Cave is set amidst snowy Kashmiri mountains where the air loses its oxygen count at -5⁰ Celsius.

Amarnath Yatra is open for 37 days this year between 25 June and 2 August. Registrations – online and over the counter are open. On-spot registrations are also possible.

Visiting the Amarnath Cave is practically an adventure sport in itself as it entails strenuous trekking-trails through challenging rocky, verdant and snowy mountainous terrain and camping in the mountain wilderness. Involving 50 kilometres of near-vertical mountain-climb and spanning 4 days (one way) is this mother-of-all-Yatras for Hindus all over the world.

The base camps for this Yatra are Chandanwari and Baltal. Both these places are approached via Jammu. The routes being:

1.    Jammu > Pahalgam (315 kms from Jammu to Pahalgam) > Chandanwari > Pissu Top > Sheshnag > Panchtarni > Amarnath Cave – 50 kms from Chandanwari to the Holy Cave.

2.    Jammu > Udhampur > Patnitop > Kud > Ramban > Banihal > Qazigund > Anantnag > Srinagar > Baltal (414 kms from Jammu to Baltal) > Amarnath Cave – 14 kms from Baltal to the Holy Cave.

Pilgrims can also complete this Yatra in a shorter span by availing of the Helicopter rides which start at Pahalgam and at Baltal and back. Ponies are another alternative for people who can’t walk or fly in Helicopters.

6, 34,000 people from all over India and the world visited Amarnath Yatra in 2011 – the highest ever!

Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department along with the Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust are gearing up for more visitors in 2012. Registration Counters have been increased from 149 to 274 counter and additional tent-accommodation facilities are underway – being freely offered by Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department, Bhole Bhandari Charitable Trust and many other non-Government Charitable Organizations. Helicopter fare from Pahalgam and Baltal to Amarnath Cave has been slashed by 40% in order to make it more convenient for aged pilgrims who are daring this Yatra these days. Security has been revved up along the route to make it naturally safe for the pilgrims.

The one thing that is reiterated as mandatory by the Shrine Board is a fitness test and a medical certificate issued by Registered Medical Practitioner for the pilgrim, without which, the pilgrim is not allowed on the Yatra as 107 pilgrims lost their lives due to Cardiac arrest on Amarnath Yatra in 2011 and the Shrine Board is concerned for the safety of the pilgrims. So, take this seriously people.

Besides the Darshan of the Shiva Linga in Amarnath Cave, the amazing aspect of this Yatra is the route to the Holy Amarnath Cave which is awesome and overwhelming and gives a sample of the glorious Kashmir terrain. And reciting what my colleague recently taught me - Bol Har Har Mahadev!

Pix courtesy Wikipedia & Amarnathjiyatra.