Ratha Yatra

Jagannath temple is one of its own kinds where the divinities get involved in human affairs. The deities are deemed to reside in human form. So, the god has to follow the natural laws applicable to living beings. He bears the suffering like his subjects and has his own share of joy and pain. So after the ceremonial bath with 108 pots of water on eve of Snana Purnima; the lords fall sick and get isolated in “Anasar gruha” for 15 days. The priests take care of them as we take care of sick persons. They are well treated with medicinal herbs. The temple doors remain closed for the devotees. The series idols are made of wood, so in this time, the wooden idols are re-painted and cleaned properly. And once the doors open, the festival of Rathayatra begins in full form.

Ratha Yatra is an annual festival in Jagannath temple when Lord Jagannath along with his siblings visit Gundicha temple getting on their huge chariots. The first day of Ratha Yatra is  called Pahandi Bije when the lords come out of their sanctum, decorated with huge flower adorned tahiyas and carried on to their respective chariot. The journey of the deities to the world outside, starts with a spectacular royal procession called Pahandi Bije. This Pahandi procession of the deities is in a row and is known as ‘Dhadi Pahandi’ or a group movement. In Dhadi Pahandi procession the deities take rest whenever required during the journey to their respective chariots. All the deities move simultaneously one after the other in close succession. First lord Sudarshan, then Balabhadra, the Subhadra and lastly lord Jagannath are taken out from the inner sanctum. At the seven – stairs northern exit from the dancing hall, the three deities assemble and receive giant floral crowns, called Tahias. Then the deities are literally pulled, pushed and dragged in rhythmic movement with the accompaniment of the beat of cymbals, drums, and chanting of their names in chorus by devotees. Lord Sudarshan and Subhadra are carried on the shoulders but Balabhadra and Jagannath are carried all the way with little pauses in forward and backward motions. Every year during Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannath visits queen Gundicha temple with his siblings to keep a promise that he made to the queen. It is believed that the mythological king Indradyumma and his queen Gundicha sacrificed a lot in the making of Jagannath temple. When Lord Jagannath first appeared in Puri temple, he asked the king to make a wish and generous king told that he never wants his successors to claim their authority on Jagannath temple. But deep inside Lord Jagannath could sense the motherly feeling of queen Gundicha and promised her that he along with his siblings will pay a visit to her temple once a year so that she never gets to feel childless. It is believed that Gundicha temple is the birthplace of the Lord’s and Queen Gundicha was the first to open the doors and witness the divine wooden incarnation of Lord Krishna. This is the reason why first day of Ratha Yatra is also known as “Shri Gundicha” and every year Lord Jagannath offers ‘Pinda Shraddha’ to Indradyumma and Gundicha during Dena deepabali considering himself as their child.

During the nine days long festival to Ratha Yatra, lord Jagannath along with his siblings while visiting to Gundicha temple meet his devotees leaving behind his beloved wife Maha Laxmi in Shrimandir. Jagannath temple is the only temple where the god dies all these humanly affairs like going on a trip with his siblings and planning not to involve his wife in this.