The Jagannath Puri Temple in Odisha has officially begun hosting the annual Hindu festival, the Jagannath Rath Yatra. This year’s festivities kicked off on June 20, 2023, and will run until June 28, 2023.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra Explained
An important element of the Hindu calendar, the Jagannath Rath Yatra involves a ceremonial journey undertaken by three deities—Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and their younger sister Goddess Subhadra. The procession sees these deities transported from their home temple in Puri to their Aunt’s temple in Gundicha, which is a distance of about three kilometers.
This annual event was inspired by a legendary incident wherein Goddess Subhadra expressed her desire to visit her aunt’s residence residing in Gundicha. To fulfill this wish, both Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra accompanied her, and this journey is commemorated each year. Dating back to at least the 12th century CE with the construction of the Jagannath temple, some sources suggest that the festival had been in practice even earlier. Commonly referred to as the “Festival of Chariots”, the deities are transported on three enormous wooden chariots which are drawn by devotees via ropes. The festival occurs during the second day of Ashadha (June-July) and continues for nine days.
Chariot Details
The rupakar servitors are responsible for embellishing the chariots. These highly skilled craftsmen carve intricate designs of animals, birds, flowers, and guardian deities onto the vehicles.
Jagannath Puri Temple Overview
The Jagannath Puri Temple is a prominent landmark in the Indian state of Odisha. Known as the “White Pagoda,” it is part of the Char Dham pilgrimages, which includes Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram. The temple is a fine representation of Kalinga architecture, characterized by curved towers filled with intricate carvings and elaborate sculptures.
The temple complex is encased within a high wall, with each of its four gates facing a cardinal direction. The main temple comprises four structures: the vimana (sanctum), the jagamohana (assembly hall), the nata-mandira (festival hall), and the bhoga-mandapa (offering hall).
In Hindu beliefs, Puri is also known as ‘Yamanika Tirtha’, signifying a place where the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death, is nullified due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024