Ratha Yatra (Puri)

Rathayatra of Puri
Puri Rathayatra, 2007
Place	Puri, Odisha, India

Ratha Yatra (Oriya: ରଥଯାତ୍ରା or Ratha Jatra or Chariot Festival) is a Hindu festival associated with the god Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Odisha, India. This annual festival is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashadha month).

The festival commemorates Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (aunt's home) near Balagandi Chaka, Puri.

As part of Ratha Yatra, the deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a procession to Gundicha Temple and remain there for nine days. Then the deities or Ratha Yatra return to the Main temple. The return journey of Puri Jagannath Ratha Jatra is known as Bahuda Jatra.

Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri called Badadanda. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt's temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. 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. During the festival, devotees from all over the world go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pull the Lords' chariots with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes. They consider this a pious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Ratha carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event; the chariots are built anew each year only from a particular type of tree. Millions of devotees congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad. It is also broadcast live on many Indian, foreign television channels as well as many of the websites telecast jagannath ratha yatra live.

Description

The "Bada Danda" or the Grand Avenue

Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariot: Chariots of Shri Jagannath is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Odisha, on the second (dwitiya) day of shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of moon) of Ashadh Maas (3rd month in Lunar Calendar). The presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple, Puri's main temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel (Sudarshana Chakra) are taken out from the temple precincts in an elaborate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by multitude of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple (Gundicha – King Indradyumna's Queen), two miles away to the North.

On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake supposed to be the Lord's favourite. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode.

Significance

Rath/chariots under construction for the Rath Yatra in Puri

Jagannath being brought out of the Puri temple to the Rath

Jagannath on his chariot

The festival is also known as Gundicha Yatra, Ghosa Yatra, Navadina Yātrā, Dasāvatāra Yātrā and by a variety of other names. Rathe tu vamanam drishtwa punarjanmam na vidyate: A glimpse of the Vamana, the dwarf form, an incarnation of Lord Jagannatha, is sure to ensure emancipation, release from the cycle of birth and death. Yatra is an essential part of the ritual of the Hindu system of worship. Yatra literally means travel or journey. Normally, it is the representative deities of temples more popularly known as Utsava Murti in south and Chalanti Pratima or Bije Pratima in Odisha, partake in these journeys. The Yatra for the Ritual Journey take two forms – one involving the short circumbulation around the temple and other involving a longer journey from the temple to some other destination. The Yatra is considered as an important part of festivities and ceremonies of each temple and is considered as a special and sacred occasion. Rath Yatra being unique among all Yatras is the grandest festival of the supreme divinity who has manifested himself in the Kali Yuga to emancipate humanity and to relieve them from their sufferings. Lord Jagannatha is identified fully with Krishna. In his original manifestation as Nilamadhaba, he was worshipped in a sacred Nyagrodha Briksha or banyan tree. The branches of the tree had spread for several miles and any one entering this area was instantly emancipated and was relieved of the travails of the birth and rebirth. In fact, the influence of Yama, the God of Death, is supposed to have been curtailed in the sacred city of Puri – Srikshetra on account of the presence of Lord Jagannatha and therefore it is also called the Yamanika Tirtha.

A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and saints, poets and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival. The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages. In fact, there is a famous Oriya song which says that on this occasion, the chariot, the wheels, the grand avenue all become one with Lord Jagannatha himself.

The concept of the chariot has been explained in the Kathopanishada in the following words-

Atmaanam rathinam viddhi shareeram rathamevatu Buddhim tu saarathim viddhi manah pragrahameva cha. The body is the chariot and the soul is the deity installed in the chariot. The wisdom acts as the charioteer to control the mind and thoughts.

The Skanda Purana glorifies the sanctity of the Rath Yatra in the following words-

Gundicha mandapam namam yatrahamajanam pura Ashwamedha sahasrasya mahabedi tadadvabat.

Those who are fortunate to see the deities of the Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, derive the benefits of a thousand horse sacrifices, an immensely pious deed. Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja in his famous Vaidehisa Vilasa mentions that the Lord comes out from his sanctum for participating in the Gundicha Yatra, another name of the Festival of Chariots, only for redeeming the fallen, the patita jana who get the opportunity to behold their dearest god at close quarters on this occasion. Similarly, saint poet Salabega waxes eloquent in praise of the dark Lord Jagannath and says that the Lord swaying and moving like a wild elephant arrives at the Grand Avenue and rides his chariot and destroys in a flash all the sins of his devotees, even if these may be grave or unpardonable.

The Chariots

The three chariots of Balarama, Subhadra and Jagannatha are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. They are customarily brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla by a specialist team of carpenters who have hereditary rights and privileges for the same. The logs are traditionally set afloat as rafts in the river Mahanadi. These are collected near Puri and then transported by road.

The three chariots are decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion's Gate.

Lord Jagannatha's chariot is called Nandighosa. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krushna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.

Nandighosa Rath

The chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag. It has fourteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.

Taladhwaja Rath

The chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally "trampler of pride," is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. This chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth – black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess.

Dwarpadalana or Padmadhwaja Rath

Around each of the chariots are nine Parsva devatas, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots' sides. Each of the chariots is attached to four horses. These are of different colours – dark ones for Balarama, white ones for Jagannatha, and red ones for Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi. The three charioteers attached to the chariots of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra respectively are Daruka, Matali and Arjuna.

Descriptions of the Chariots

Nandighosha

The chariot of Lord Jagannath is named as Nandighosha or Garudadhwaja or Kapiladhwaja. The Lord is accompanied by Madanmohan.

Number of wheels: 16
Total Number of wooden pieces used: 832
Height: 44' 2"
Length and breadth: 34'6" x 34'6"
Wrappings: Red, Yellow colour cloths
Guarded by: Garuda
Name of the charioteer: Daruka
The flag: Trailokyamohini
The horses: Shankha, Balahaka, Suweta, Haridashwa
The rope: Sankhachuda Naguni
Presiding Nine Deities: (i) Varaha
                        (ii) Gobardhan
                        (iii) Krishna, Gopi Krishna
                        (iv) Nursingha
                        (v) Rama
                        (vi) Narayan
                        (Vii) Trivikrama
                        (viii) Hanuman
                        (ix) Rudra

Taladhwaja

The Chariot of Balabhadra named as Taladhwaja or Langaladhwaja. The Lord is accompanied by Ramakrishna.

Number of wheels: 14
Total Number of wooden pieces used: 763
Height: 43' 3"
Length and breadth: 33' x 33'
Wrappings: Red, Bluish green colour cloths
Guarded by: Basudev
Name of the charioteer: Matali
The flag: Unnani
The horses: Tribra, Ghora, Dirghasharma, Swornanava
The rope: Basuki Naga
Presiding Nine Deities: (i) Ganesh
                        (ii) Kartikeya
                        (iii) Sarvamangala
                        (iv) Pralambari
                        (v) Hatayudha
                        (vi) Mrutyunjaya
                        (vii) Natamvara
                        (viii) Mukteswar
                        (ix) Sheshadeva

Darpadalana

The chariot of Subhadra named as Darpadalana or Devadalana or Padmadhwaja. The Goddess is accompanied by Sudarshana.

Number of wheels: 12
Total Number of wooden pieces used: 593
Height: 42' 3"
Length and breadth: 31'6" x 31'6"
Wrappings: Red, Black colour cloths
Guarded by: Jayadurga
Name of the charioteer: Arjuna
The flag: Nadambika
The horses: Rochika, Mochika, Jita, Aparajita
The rope: Swarnachuda Naguni
Presiding Nine Deities: (i) Chandi
                        (ii) Chamunda
                        (iii) Ugratara
                        (iv) Vanadurga
                        (v) Shulidurga
                        (vi) Varahi
                        (vii) Shyamakali
                        (viii) Mangala
                        (ix) Vimala

CAR Festival

Chandan Jatra

The Kings palace in Puri

The construction of the chariots starts on Akshaya Trutiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, with ritual fire worship. This takes place in front of the palace of the King of Puri and opposite the main office of the Puri temple. On this day, the new agricultural season starts and farmers start ploughing their fields. This day also marks the beginning of the summer festival of the deities, also known as the sandalwood festival or Chandan Yatra, which lasts for three weeks. In this festival, the representative images of the presiding deities are taken out in colourful processions and given a ceremonial boat ride in the Narendra tank every day. In an interesting demonstration of the assimilative character of the Jagannatha cult, Madanmohana and Rama Krushna, representing Jagannatha & Balarama partake in the festival with the representatives' images of the presiding deities of five main Shiva temples of Puri. These are curiously known as Pancha Pandava, the five brothers of the Mahabharata story. Later the deities have a ritual bath in a small temple in the middle of the tank, in stone tubs filled with water, sandalwood paste, scents and flowers.

The chariots under construction

This sandalwood festival culminates in the Snana Yatra, the Bathing Festival on the full moon day of the month of Jestha. On this day, the presiding deities descend from their seats on an elevated platform in the sanctum sanctorum, the bejewelled throne. They are bathed in 108 pots of water brought from the suna kua, the golden well and assume the elephant form on the special bathing platform, close to the Eastern boundary wall of the temple. From that day the deities remain in symbolic and ritual convalescence for about two weeks. They are barred from view of the ordinary devotees. Only three special patta chitras, traditional Oriya paintings of natural colours on cloth stiffened with starch, known as Anasara Pattis, are strung on a bamboo screen hiding the deities from public view, can be seen by the public. During this period, the deities are given only roots, leaves, berries and fruits to cure them from their indisposition. This ritual is a reminder of the strong tribal elements in the genesis and evolution of the Jagannatha cult. The progeny of Lalita, daughter of the original tribal worshipper Biswabasu, chieftain of hunters, and the Brahmin priest Vidyapati, are known as daitapatis or daitas. They have almost exclusive privilege of serving the Lord during the convalescence and through the entire period of Ratha Jatra or the Festival of Chariots.

Suna Besha

The Suna Besha of Jagannath

After the chariots of the deities return to the main temple from the Gundicha temple, the deities are attired in gold ornaments and worshipped on the chariots. This celebration is known as Suna Besha. Tradition maintains that this event was first started by King Kapilendra Deb in 1460, when after returning victorious from war he donated gold to Jagannath. The deities are adorned with gold jewelleries weighing nearly 208 kg. In 2014 nearly nine hundred thousand devotees witnessed this event held on 9 th of July

The Ratha Yatra of 2014

Devotees visiting the Ratha Yatra of 2007

The Ratha yatra in Puri of 2014 started on 29 June amid great fanfare and religious fervor with tight security arranged by the authorities. The Indian Prime minister Mr Narendra Modi greeting the people on the occasion of the Ratha Yatra tweeted "My warm greetings to the people on the occasion of the rath yatras that would be held across India today. We bow to Lord Jagannath on this auspicious day. Today once again He sets out on His chariot, giving blessings to the people,". More than a million devotees are expected to throng Puri on the occasion for the festival that is watched by millions on television. The Bahuda yatra or the return journey of Jagannath from Gundicha temple occurred on 7 July and was attended by more than 400,000 devotees

The Ratha Yatra and Pahandi of 2015

The Ratha yatra in Puri of 2015 started on 18 July amid great fanfare and religious fervor with tight security arranged by the authorities.

International Ratha Yatra

Rath Jatra festival in New York City organised by ISKCON

Rath Yatra, Toronto, 2011

The Ratha Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement. Its leader A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada successfully transplanted the festival which now happens on an annual basis in places all over the world in over 100 cities including Lagos Nigeria Dublin, Belfast, Birmingham, London, Bath, Budapest, Melbourne, Montreal, Paris, New York, Singapore, Toronto, Suva in Fiji Islands, Antwerp, Kuala Lumpur and Venice, California. The Rathajatra in Dhamrai, Bangladesh, is one of the most important in Bangladesh.

Service offerings

Jagannath temple employs different kinds of sevakas who offer their services on the Ratha.

• Suara:
• Mahasuara:
• Dahuka: Ratha dahuka boli (Odia: ଡାହୁକ ବୋଲି, also "Dahuka gita" (ଡାହୁକ ଗୀତ)) which are poetic recitations. Ratha Yatra being a symbolic expression of fertility and Life cycle, these "boli" sung by the Dahuka contain bawdy songs. It is believed that unless the Dahuka boli is sung 'Ratha' does not move. These songs are sung publicly without any kind of hold on the lyrics. Dahuka controls the movement of Ratha during the festival.
• Daita pati:
• Puspalaka:
• Banati Players: Banati is an age-old art, in which a person spins balls set on fire and tied to the ends of a rope. Every year during the Rath yatra devotees perform "Banati" to appease Lord Jagannath. Knives and fireballs, which are attached to the Banati add colour to the procession of the Lord as it reaches its destination

External links

• Live Rath Yatra
• Ratha Yatra Festival
• Rath Yatra Festivals of odisha
• Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra
• Rath Yatra festival
• Ratha Yatra PURI
• LordJagannath Rath Yatra, Puri, Odisha – Information and Video
• Orissa government publication on the event
• Rath Yatra 2013 in Ahmedabad