THE RATH YATRA OR CHARIOT FESTIVAL OF ODISHA STATE (INDIA)
About Rath Yatra ::- Rath Yatra Is A Hindu Festival Associated With Lord Jagannath Held At Shri Kshetra Puri Dham In The State Of Odisha, India. It Is The Oldest Rath Yatra, Whose Descriptions Can Be Found In Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, And Skanda Purana And Kapila Samhita. Rath Yatra Is The Celebration Of The Lord Jagannath, Who Is Believed To Be The Lord Of Universe's Journey Towards His Aunt's House.
Rath Yatra Festival Is Any Public Procession In A Chariot. The Term Particularly Refers To The Annual Rath Yatra In Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal And Other East India States, Particularly The Odia Festival That Involve A Public Procession With A Chariot With Deities Jagannath (Vishnu Avatar), Balabhadra (His Brother), Subhadra ( His Sister) And Sudarshana Chakra ( His Weapon) On A Rath, A Wooden Deula- Shaped Chariots. The Festival Commemorates Jagannath's Annual Visit To Gundicha Temple Via Mausi Maa Temple (Maternal Aunt's Home) Near Saradha Bali, Puri.
The Presiding Deities Of The Jagannath Temple, Puri's Main Temple Lord Jagannath, Blabhadra And Goddess Subhadra With The Celestial Wheel Sudarshan Chakra Are Removed From The Temple In A Ceremonial Procession To Their Chariots. The Huge, Colorfully Decorated Chariots Are Drawn By Multitude Of Devotees On The Bada Danda, The Grand Avenue To The Gundicha Temple, 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 Favorite. After A Stay For Seven Days, The Deities Return Their Abode.
The Three Chariots Of Jagannath, Balabhadra And Subhadra Are Newly Constructed Every Year With Wood Of Specified Trees Like Phassi, Dhaura, 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.
The Annual Festival Is Celebrated On Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (Second Day In Bright Fortnight Of Ashadha Month). In This Day A Lot Of People Devotees Going To Puri To See The Rath Yatra Lord Of Jagannath.
How To Go ::- Puri Has A Railway Junction That Connects It To The Other Parts Of The Country And Vice versa. The Nearest Airport Is Biujupattnaik Airport Which Is Located In Bhubaneswar Almost 60 Kilometers From Puri. From Local Transport Buses To Cabs And Taxis, There Are Many Ways in Which One Can Reach Puri.
