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India.com
10 hours ago
- India.com
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: 10 fascinating facts about India's grandest chariot festival
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: One of India's most revered and visually grand festivals, Jagannath Rath Yatra, which is also known as Shree Gundicha Yatra or the Chariot Festival, is being celebrated today, June 27, in Puri, Odisha. This festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. This ancient tradition blends mysticism, devotion, and royal pageantry into an awe-inspiring spiritual journey. And today, let's uncover some fascinating facts about this age-old and spiritually rich tradition. Three primary deities Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra. Each rides in their own colossal wooden chariot—constructed afresh each year using specific trees like phassi and dhausa. The designs are strictly traditional and remain unchanged for centuries. The chariots are named: 1. Nandighosa (Jagannath – 18 wheels) 2. Taladhwaja (Balabhadra – 16 wheels) 3. Darpadalana (Subhadra – 14 wheels) The Deities leave their temple Once a year, the idols leave the Jagannath Temple and travel to the Gundicha Temple—symbolizing a rare moment when the divine steps out to meet the public. New chariots are built every year Each year, brand-new chariots are made using sacred wood like phassi and dhausa. The design and structure remain exactly the same, down to their divine guardians—Garuda, Vasudeva, and Jayadurga. Chariots have names and unique features Jagannath rides Nandighosa with 18 wheels Balabhadra rides Taladhwaja with 16 wheels Subhadra rides Darpadalana with 14 wheels All are decorated with vibrant canopies and pulled by devotees. Temple entry restrictions lifted during yatra Non-Hindus and foreigners are not allowed inside the temple, but during Rath Yatra, everyone can see and even touch the deities—a gesture of divine inclusiveness. King becomes a servant for the lord The Gajapati King of Puri performs the Chhera Pahanra ritual, sweeping the chariot floor with a golden broom to show that even kings bow before the divine. The Deities 'Fall Ill' before the festival Fifteen days before the Yatra, the deities are symbolically believed to fall sick after a ceremonial bath of 108 pots of water and rest during a phase called Anasara. The main temple gate remains closed During this rest period, the main entrance of Jagannath Temple, the Singhadwara, stays shut, signifying the deities' absence from their home. Jagannath's chariot doesn't move easily Devotees believe Lord Jagannath doesn't move immediately when the Yatra begins—symbolising that divine will cannot be forced, even by hundreds pushing and pulling. The divine marital dispute: Hera Panchami On the fifth day of the Yatra, Goddess Mahalaxmi, upset with Jagannath for leaving without her, visits Gundicha Temple to symbolically demand his return.
NDTV
15 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
Devotees Gather For Grand Rath Yatra Of Lord Jagannath In Puri
Bhubaneswar: A large crowd of devotees has gathered at Puri's Jagannath Temple for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra that will commence on Friday. Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually in Odisha. It is observed on Dwitiya Tithi — the second day of the (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar month — a time considered spiritually auspicious due to the increasing brightness of the moon. Renowned scholar on Jagannath culture, Suryanarayan Rath Sharma, speaking on the Rath Yatra, told IANS, "The Rath Yatra is the most ancient chariot festival in the world... It is believed that having darshan of Lord Jagannath during this Yatra grants a devotee moksha." The devotees have gathered by the millions for the famous Ratha Yatra, as Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra prepare to embark on their nine-day sojourn from their abode, the 12th-century shrine, to Gundicha Temple today. Devotees, gripped with ecstasy, will pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra — Nandighosh, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan respectively — for around 3 km to the Gundicha Temple, believed by some legends to be the birthplace of the Chaturddha Murti (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Maa Subhadra, and Sudarshan). Various departments of the state government have made elaborate preparations to ensure a smooth and incident-free Rath Yatra. 'We are fully prepared for the grand Rathayatra. All rituals and arrangements have been meticulously planned and will be carried out with equal dedication. I seek the blessings of Mahaprabhu and the cooperation of all devotees to ensure a smooth and sacred celebration,' said Sidharth Shankar Swain, Collector, Puri earlier on Thursday. The holy city of Puri has been placed under a five-tiered security blanket for the nine-day-long Rath Yatra festival. As many as 200 platoons of police force and eight companies of the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, etc., have been deployed throughout the sacred coastal town for the Ratha Yatra. Similarly, around 10,000 personnel of Odisha police, Central Armed Police Force and Home Guard have been deployed in Puri and around the city during the Ratha Yatra this year. The police officers stationed at integrated command-and-control system, set up for the first time this year, and other sub-control rooms will keep a watch on traffic and crowd movements through live feeds from around 275 AI-enabled CCTVs installed from Uttara Square to Puri Town, in the town and from Puri to Konark.
Mint
3 days ago
- General
- Mint
Rath Yatra 2025: Preparation for the chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha in full swing
Rath Yatra 2025: Preparation for the chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha in full swing 7 Photos . Updated: 24 Jun 2025, 01:37 PM IST Share Via Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, set to begin on June 27. 1/7Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra. Workers are busy getting everything ready ahead of the auspicious procession set to begin on June 27. (HT ) 2/7Preparations for the Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra are in progress in Puri. As per the Hindu calendar, the grand annual event takes place on the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashada. (Prahalad Mahato) 3/7Artisans are seen building the chariots for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in preparation for the annual Rath Yatra festival, set to take place on June 27 in Puri, Odisha. (PTI) 4/7An artisan is seen carving wooden miniature chariots in preparation for the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Kolkata. (saikat paul) 5/7Artisans are seen colouring structures of the grand chariots for Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival. (PTI) 6/7Devotees gather for the Mameru Darshan of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra, who are adorned in new clothes and jewellery gifted by their maternal uncle, as part of the preparations for the 148th annual Rath Yatra procession in Ahmedabad. (PTI)
