Every year, the city of Odisha celebrates the famous Hindu festival known as Jagannath Rath Yatra. It takes place on the Dwitiya Tithi, the second day of the Shukla Paksha of Sharad Paksha, which is the fortnight of the Ashadh lunar month in Hinduism. The moonlight increases during Sharad Paksha, which is auspicious for spiritual activities. Ashadh month according to the Hindu lunar calendar falls in June or July of the Gregorian calendar.
This grand parade, which consists of huge carts carrying sacred figures, is full of zeal and enthusiasm. The chariots being pulled by enthusiastic devotees, the hymns being sung rhythmically and the grandeur of the event create an amazing feeling.
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Date and Time
Dwitiya Tithi Start – 07 July, 2024 – 04:26 AM
Dwitiya Tithi Ends – July 08, 2024 – 04:59 AM
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Significance
The parade of the three holy chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra is the most important part of this ritual. The chariots are beautifully decorated and their bright colours, intricate decorations and designs attract the guests. Apart from this, rangoli, lights and flowers are used to decorate the temples, giving a mystical feel to the festival.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a national holiday in Odisha, in which people from across the state gather to honor Lord Jagannath. People have always been drawn to Puri for this festival and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: History
Each deity has a chariot to travel. Goddess Subhadra’s Darpadalana has twelve wheels, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaja has fourteen wheels, and Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosa has sixteen wheels. The sight of these huge wooden carts being pulled by devotees through the streets of Puri is simply breathtaking.
The festival is full of rituals and ceremonies. Goddess Lakshmi visits the Gundicha temple on the fourth day, called Hera Panchami, to see Lord Jagannath. The return journey takes place on the eighth day, known as Bahuda Yatra.
One of the finest examples of Kalinga architecture is the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which dates back to the 12th century. Every year, more people attend the Rath Yatra ritual, which has been honored for decades. The festival used to attract 400,000 to 500,000 pilgrims each year.
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Rituals
Each of the fascinating ceremonies involved in the Jagannath Rath Yatra is steeped in tradition and symbolism. The day before the main procession, the deities are purified with a pre-yatra ritual bath (ratha snan), which involves 108 pots of scented water and sacred objects. Ratha Pratishtha, or the consecration of the chariots, follows, during which priests bless and recite mantras over the newly built chariots, making them vessels for the heavenly journey.
The Rath Yatra or chariot procession marks the conclusion of the yatra. The streets fill up with chants and energy as thousands of devotees pull the grand chariots towards the Gundicha Temple. Devotees can come here to seek blessings of the deities who stay for nine days. After this journey, the deities return to the Jagannath temple in a similar procession filled with festive festivities, known as the Bahuda Yatra (return journey). With the separation of the chariots at Neeladri Vijaya, the yatra comes to an end and marks the end of the holy journey with the promise of its revival the following year.
