Tag: #rathyatra

Rath yatra during pandemic

Rath yatra during COVID-19

Rath yatra is celebrated every year on dwitiya tithi of shukla paksh at ashada maas (hindhu calendar). This year it was celebrated on July 12 Monday 2021. It is one of the biggest yatra in India.

Jagannath rath yatra is devoted to the one form of lord vishnu. Jagannath- lord of the world- in sanatan dharm hindhu consider the bhagwan vishnu as the preserver of the world. Bhagwan vishnu preserves the whole cosmos from the evils- written in shrimad bhagwat katha. 

Jagannath temple is situated in the puri odisha. It was built by the king indradyumna. He was the bhakt of jagannath. His wife gundicha is known as jagannath swami maternal aunt (masi). She was blessed by the jagannath that he would come at her place for eight days every year on ashada maas on dwitiya  tithi of shukla paksh. 

 In Jagannath temple, bhagwan jagannath is worshipped along with his brother balbhadr and sister subhadra. It is the only temple in the world where brother and sister is worshipped.

Jagannath temple is one of the most beautiful monuments of Indian architecture. The temple is near the ocean. There is a sudarshan chakra at the top of the temple. The flag is daily because they believe that if the flag is not changed on a single day the temple will remain closed for the upcoming 18 year. The height of the jagannath temple is 65 metres. The roof of the temple is supported by 12 pillars. There is a mukti mandap which is made up of granite in the area of 900 square feet in square shape.

During the pandemic, only a few members of the temple committee participated in the yatra. The members are fully vaccinated and found negative in covid-19 test. Maha pandit of the temple said over a lakh people used to participate in the rath yatra. People from all over the world come here to see the precious yatra of bhagwan jagannath from temple to gundicha temple. It is the celebration of ten days in  which hera pancham (fourth day of rath yatra) and the return yatra. I hope that everything will be fine soon so people can celebrate the yatra as earlier. 

The court of puri ordered that the yatra must be in a limited area of puri. In other states the rath yatra is banned by the supreme court. The prime minister of India shri narendra das domodar das modi also greeted the people of the nation on the occasion of the rath yatra. The government of India is preparing for the third wave of covid-19.  If they allow the gathering of people for the rath yatra, it causes the risk of increasing the case of covid-19 in the nation.

We hope that this pandemic will be over soon and we can celebrate the other rath yatra with full of joy and love. Because it is not only a rath yatra, it is a symbol of brotherhood, unity and harmony.

Rath Yatra: The world famous Cart Festival

Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra, 12 July, 2021

Rath Yatra, also known as “Car Festival” or “Chariot Festival” is an annual festival which takes place in Puri, Odisha, a state in India. It is famous for being a crowd puller. Every year millions of people arrive in the city to take part in the festival.

This Hindu festival is associated with Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu (not to be confused with avatar).

Every year Lord Jagannath visits his birthplace- Gundicha temple, via Mausi Maa temple (maternal aunt’s temple).

The festival is about Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balaram, sister Goddess Subhadra along with the eternal wheel Sudarshan Chakra journey and visits to his birthplace. It is a seven days’ visit and on the last day when he returns home, he stops for a short while at his maternal aunt’s home, the Mausi Maa temple.

Each of the deities has a chariot of its own.

Lord Jagannath

Lord Jagannath’s Chariot is the largest of all with 16 wheels and 4 white horses.  The name of the chariot is Nandighosha, also known as Garudadhwaja and Kapiladhwaja. The Chariot is also recognised by its red and yellow colour which are most commonly associated with Lord Vishnu among the Hindus. The guardian of the chariot is Garuda and the name of the charioteer is Daruka. The gatekeepers are Jaya and Vijaya. The Lord is accompanied by the deity Madanmohan. Among all the chariots Lord Jagannath’s chariot is the tallest since he’s the most powerful one even if he’s the middle one. The emblem of his flag is the Sudarshana Chakra.

Nandigosha Rath

Lord Balabhadra

Lord Balabhadra is the second most powerful among the three siblings, hence the second-largest chariot. His chariot has 14 wheels and 4 horses. His chariot is recognised by the red and bluish-green colour combination and black horses. The emblem of the flag on His chariot is a palm tree. The guardian of his chariot is Vasudev and the charioteer is Matali. The gatekeepers are Nanda and Sunanda. His chariot is called Taladhwaja, also known as Langaladhwaja. He is accompanied by Ramakrishna.

Taladhwaja Rath

Goddess Subhadra

Goddess Subhadra is the sister. Along with her brothers, she too travels to Lord Jagannath’s birthplace in her red and black chariot, black being associated with the Goddess. Her chariot, Darpadalana, also known as Devadalana or Padmadhwaja has 12 wheels and 4 red horses. Her guardian is Jayadurga and charioteer is Arjun. She is accompanied by the eternal wheel, Sudarshana. The eternal wheel travels with Her, on Her chariot for Her safety. Her gatekeepers are Ganga and Jamuna.

Darpadalana Rath

The Yatra (The Journey)

The Rath Yatra takes place starts from a specific place and follows a fixed path. The procession progresses down the Bada Danda, a 3km long road. The chariots are drawn by the many devotees who assemble on this holy day at the Bada Danda. The deities reach their destination, the Gundicha temple, before nightfall. They stay in their respective chariots for the entire night and enter the temple the next day. For the following 7 days, they stay there after which they come back. On the day the deities return many rituals like Suna Besha take place.  

Once they return to their abode in Puri the Rath Yatra ends.  

Note: All images have been taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratha_Yatra_(Puri)

RATH YATRA

Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath. It is held at Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is the oldest rath yatra in the whole world, and it’s description can be found in Brahma Purana, Padma purana, etc. It is among the most famous Vaishnavite rituals in India and abroad, so, usually witnessed much fervour and enthusiasms among devotees who come to pray- Lord Jagannath, Lord Babhadra and Lordess Subhadra.

For the festival, in the Lord Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, special chariots are built every year, and this year has been no different. But, this year due to corona restrictions, no devotee’s are allowed during the most awaited Rath Yatra, even though Lord Jagannath is one of the principal deities in the state of Odisha. Though, this year the chariot pullers who had participated in the procession had been tested Covid-19 negative and had been fully vaccinated before the festival.