Rath Yatra or Car Festival Puri commences on the 6th July and Return Car Festival or' Bahuda Jatra' falls on 14th July this year. Also known as Chariot Festival or Car festival, this is one of the most awaited Hindu festivals of the country. This colourful festival which draws millions of devotees from various parts of the country as well as from abroad to Puri, is held in June-July every year.
Snana Pumima' marks the beginning of this festival. On this day the three deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra take prolonged bath on an open platform known as 'Snana Bedi', Then they retire for 15 days popularly called the period of 'Anabasara' and remain in isolation. During this period, no public worship is performed. After 15 days of isolation, the Gods come out of the temple in a colourful procession to board their respective Chariots and thereafter begins the journey known as "Ratha Jatra'.The much famous Temple Chariot Festival of Lord Jagannath, takes place in Puri.
On the first day, the Jagannath temple images are carried through the street in three huge thundering chariots which have made this event internationally known. Nine days later, the journey is repeated in the opposite direction.Each year, in monsoon season, the proxy images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra--the deities enshrined in the Jagannath Temple at Puri--are carried in colorful processions every evening for 21 days to the Narendra Tank where they cruise in a bright decorated boat.
In gaiety and color, this festival stands next only to the Car Festival. On the full noon day of Jyestha (June), the Sananjatra or the bathing festival is observed when the images in worship are actually brought out for public viewing.
After the bathing festival, the deities spend 15 days in seclusion during which period they are repainted and prepared for the Car Festival. The Car Festival is celebrated on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha (June-July) and the deities are taken on a journey of around 3 kms in stupendous and decorated chariots for sojourn in the Gundicha Ghar till the return Car Festival which is held 9 days later.
The chariot of Lord Jagannath which is 45.6 feet high, high comprises 18 wheels and is referred as Nandighosa. Balabhadra�s chariot is made 45 feet high with 16 wheels is called Taladhvaja. The chariot of Subhadra known as Devadalana has 14 wheels and is 44.6 feet high.
Origin Of Rath Yatra
A few mythical stories related with Rath Yatra's origins exist that reflect the socio-religious thinking and beliefs of the people of the region. Some of the chief ones are:
To kill Lord Krishna and Balram, Kansa, their maternal uncle, invited them to Mathura. He sent Akrur with a chariot to Gokul. As asked, Lord Krishna, along with Balram, sat on the chariot and left for Mathura. The devotees celebrate this day of departure as Rath Yatra.
Euphoric devotees celebrated the day when Lord Krishna, aftr defeating the evil Kansa, gave them darshan in Mathura in a chariot with his brother, Balaram.
Devotees in Dwarika celebrated the day when Lord Krishna, accompanied by Balaram, took Subhadra -- his sister, for a ride on a chariot to show the city's splendor.
The Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the four most sacred temples in the four directions of the India--the other three being: Rameshwar in South, Dwarka in West and Badrinath in the Himalayas. Maybe, the temple in Jagannath Puri is the world's only temple with the statues of three deities who are siblings -- Lord Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra.
On the day of the initiation of this Yatra, all the people at Puri get up early in the morning and take bath. After this purification bath, they offer prayers to the Lord at their homes and then head towards the Jagannath Temple. The massive chariots on which the Lord has to be taken out in a procession are lined up in front of the temple only.
It is after the devotees have reached the temple, that the contemporary king of the region brings the deities from the temple and installs them on their respective chariots. This ceremony is observed with a great pomp and show, and is followed by massive prayers offered to the Lord by His devotees.
This ritual associated with this Yatra demonstrates that every human being is equal to God irrespective of his caste, color or creed. But, this bringing out of the idols of the Lord from the temple can only be done by either the King of Puri or the King of Nepal for they only belong to the Chandravanshi dynasty of Lord Krishna.
DESCRIPTION OF CHARIOTS
Chariot of Jagannath -NANDIGHOSHA
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) Krushna, Gopi Krushna
(iv) Nrusingha
(v) Rama
(vi) Narayan
(Vii) Trivikrama
(viii) Hanuman
(ix) Rudra
2) Chariot of Balabhadra - TALADHWAJA
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
3) Chariot of Subhadra - DEVADALANA
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
How to reach Puri
By Train
Puri is a major railway junction. Regular direct train services are available from Puri to many cities in India, including Bhubaneshwar (Puri Durg Exp), New Delhi (Purushottam Exp), Chennai(Coromandel Exp), Bangalore (Prasanti Exp) and Kolkata (Puri Hwh Duronto).
By Air
Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to Puri, which is nearly 56 km away from the heart of the Puri city.
By Bus
Orissa road transport corporation buses connect Puri to many cities in Orissa.
