Place Puri, Odisha, India | ||
 | ||
Similar Jagannath Temple - Puri, Gundicha Temple, Krishna Janmashtami, Thai Pongal, Konark Sun Temple | ||
‹See Tfd›
Contents
- Description
- The Chariots
- Nandighosha
- Taladhwaja
- DevadalanaDarpadalana
- Chandan Jatra
- Suna Besha
- The Ratha Yatra of 2014
- The Ratha Yatra and Pahandi of 2015
- International Ratha Yatra
- Service offerings
- References
Ratha Yatra (Odia: ରଥଯାତ୍ରା or Ratha Jatra or Chariot Festival) is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath (Odia:ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ )held at Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is the oldest Ratha Yatra taking place in India and the World, whose descriptions can be found in Brahma Purana(ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ପୁରାଣ), Padma Purana(ପଦ୍ମ ପୁରାଣ ), and Skanda Purana(ସ୍କନ୍ଦ ପୁରାଣ ) and Kapila Samhita(କପିଳା ସଂହିତା ).
This annual festival is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashadha month/ଆଷାଢ଼ ଶୁକ୍ଳ ପକ୍ଷ ଦ୍ଵିତୀୟ).
The festival commemorates Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha Temple(ଗୁଣ୍ଡିଚା ମନ୍ଦିର ) via Mausi Maa Temple (aunt's home/ମାଉସୀ ମା ମନ୍ଦିର ) near Balagandi Chaka, Puri.
As part of Ratha Yatra, the deities of Jagannath(ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ),his elder brother Balabhadra(ବଳଭଦ୍ର ) and younger sister Subhadra(ସୁଭଦ୍ରା ) are taken out in a procession to Gundicha Temple and remain there for nine days.They are also accompanied by Sudarshana chakra(ସୁଦର୍ଶନ ଚକ୍ର ). Then the deities or Ratha Yatra return to the Main temple. The return journey of Puri Jagannath Ratha Jatra is known as Bahuda Jatra(ବାହୁଡା ଯାତ୍ରା ).
Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri called Badadanda(ବଡଦାଣ୍ଡ). This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt's temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises, such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over the world go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pulling the Lords' chariots with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes. They consider this auspicious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Ratha carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event; the chariots are built anew each year only from a particular type of tree. Millions of devotees congregate at Puri for this annual event from all over the country and abroad. It is also broadcast live on many Indian, foreign television channels as well as many of the websites telecast jagannath ratha yatra live.
Description
Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariot: Chariots of Shri Jagannath is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Odisha, on the second (dwitiya) day of shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of moon) of Ashadh Maas (3rd month in Lunar Calendar). The presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple, Puri's main temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel (Sudarshana Chakra/ସୁଦର୍ଶନ ଚକ୍ର ) are removed from the temple in a ceremonial procession to their chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by multitude of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple (Gundicha – King Indradyumna's Queen), two miles away to the North. On the way the chariot of Lord Jagannatha, Nandighosa (ନନ୍ଦିଘୋଷ) waits near the crematorium of Bhakta Salabega (ଭକ୍ତ ସାଲବେଗ) a Muslim devout to pay him tribute.
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 favourite. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode.
The Chariots
The three chariots of Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, 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. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion's Gate.
Lord Jagannatha's chariot is called Nandighosa. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krushna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.
The chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag. It has fourteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.
The chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally "trampler of pride," is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. This chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth – black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess.
Around each of the chariots are nine Parsva devatas, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots' sides. Each of the chariots is attached to four horses. These are of different colours – dark ones for Balarama, white ones for Jagannatha, and red ones for Subhadra. Each chariot has a charioteer called Sarathi. The three charioteers attached to the chariots of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra respectively are Daruka, Matali and Arjuna.
Descriptions of the Chariots
Nandighosha (ନନ୍ଦିଘୋଷ)
The chariot of Lord Jagannath is named as Nandighosha or Garudadhwaja or Kapiladhwaja. The Lord is accompanied by Madanmohan.
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(ଗରୁଡ) Name of the charioteer: Daruka The flag: Trailokyamohini(ତ୍ରୈଲୋକ୍ୟମୋହିନୀ) The horses: Shankha, Balahaka, Suweta, Haridashwa The rope: Sankhachuda Naguni Presiding Nine Deities: (i) Varaha(ବରାହ) (ii) Gobardhan(ଗୋବର୍ଦ୍ଧନ) (iii) Krishna, Gopi Krishna (iv) Nursingha(ନୃସିଂହ) (v) Rama (vi) Narayan (Vii) Trivikrama(ତ୍ରିବିକ୍ରମ) (viii) Hanuman (ix) RudraTaladhwaja (ତାଳଧ୍ୱଜ)
The Chariot of Balabhadra named as Taladhwaja or Langaladhwaja. The Lord is accompanied by Ramakrishna.
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(ତ୍ରୀବ୍ର), Ghora(ଘୋର), Dirghasharma(ଦିର୍ଘଶର୍ମା), Swornanava(ସ୍ଵର୍ଣ୍ଣନାଭ) The rope: Basuki Naga Presiding Nine Deities: (i) Ganesh(ଗଣେଶ) (ii) Kartikeya(କାର୍ତ୍ତିକେୟ) (iii) Sarvamangala(ସର୍ବମଙ୍ଗଳା) (iv) Pralambari(ପ୍ରଳମ୍ବରୀ) (v) Hatayudha(ହଟାୟୁଧ) (vi) Mrutyunjaya(ମୃତ୍ୟୁଞ୍ଜୟ) (vii) Natamvara(ନତାମ୍ବର) (viii) Mukteswar(ମୁକ୍ତେଶ୍ଵର) (ix) Sheshadeva(ଶେଷାଦେବ)Devadalana(ଦେବଦଳନ)/Darpadalana(ଦର୍ପଦଳନ )
The chariot of Subhadra named as Darpadalana or Devadalana or Padmadhwaja(ପଦ୍ମଧ୍ଵଜ). The Goddess is accompanied by Sudarshana(ସୁଦର୍ଶନ).
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(ରୋଚିକା), Mochika(ମୋଚିକା), Jita(ଜିତା), Aparajita(ଅପରାଜିତା) The rope: Swarnachuda Naguni Presiding Nine Deities: (i) Chandi(ଚଣ୍ଡି) (ii) Chamunda(ଚାମୁଣ୍ଡା ) (iii) Ugratara(ଉଗ୍ରତର) (iv) Banadurga(ବନଦୁର୍ଗା ) (v) Shulidurga (vi) Varahi(ବରାହୀ) (vii) Shyamakali (viii) Mangala (ix) VimalaRatha Yatra Car Info
Chandan Jatra(ଚନ୍ଦନ ଯାତ୍ରା)
The construction of the chariots starts on Akshaya Trutiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, with ritual fire worship. This takes place in front of the palace of the King of Puri and opposite the main office of the Puri temple. On this day, the new agricultural season starts and farmers start ploughing their fields. This day also marks the beginning of the summer festival of the deities, also known as the sandalwood festival or Chandan Yatra, which lasts for three weeks. In this festival, the representative images of the presiding deities are taken out in colourful processions and given a ceremonial boat ride in the Narendra pokhari/tank(ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପୋଖରୀ) every day. In an interesting demonstration of the assimilative character of the Jagannatha cult, Madanmohana(ମଦନମୋହନ) and Rama Krushna, representing Jagannatha & Balarama partake in the festival with the representatives' images of the presiding deities of five main Shiva temples of Puri. These are curiously known as Pancha Pandava(ପାଞ୍ଚ ପାଣ୍ଡବ), the five brothers of the Mahabharata story. Later the deities have a ritual bath in a small temple in the middle of the tank, in stone tubs filled with water, sandalwood paste, scents and flowers.
This sandalwood festival culminates in the Snana Yatra(ସ୍ନାନ ଯାତ୍ରା ), the Bathing Festival on the full moon day of the month of Jestha. On this day, the presiding deities descend from their seats on an elevated platform in the sanctum sanctorum, the bejewelled throne. They are bathed in 108 pots of water brought from the suna kua, the golden well and assume the elephant form on the special bathing platform, close to the Eastern boundary wall of the temple. From that day the deities remain in symbolic and ritual convalescence for about two weeks. They are barred from view of the ordinary devotees. Only three special patta chitras, traditional Oriya paintings of natural colours on cloth stiffened with starch, known as Anasara Pattis, are strung on a bamboo screen hiding the deities from public view, can be seen by the public. During this period, the deities are given only roots, leaves, berries and fruits to cure them from their indisposition. This ritual is a reminder of the strong tribal elements in the genesis and evolution of the Jagannatha cult. The progeny of Lalita, daughter of the original tribal worshipper Biswabasu, chieftain of hunters, and the Brahmin priest Vidyapati, are known as daitapatis or daitas. They have almost exclusive privilege of serving the Lord during the convalescence and through the entire period of Ratha Jatra or the Festival of Chariots.
Suna Besha(ସୁନା ବେଶ)
After the chariots of the deities return to the main temple from the Gundicha temple, the deities are attired in gold ornaments and worshipped on the chariots. This celebration is known as Suna Besha. Tradition maintains that this event was first started by King Kapilendra Deb in 1460, when after returning victorious from war he donated gold to Jagannath. The deities are adorned with gold jewelleries weighing nearly 208 kg. In 2014 nearly nine hundred thousand devotees witnessed this event held on 9 July
The Ratha Yatra of 2014
The Ratha yatra in Puri of 2014 started on 29 June amid great fanfare and religious fervor with tight security arranged by the authorities. The Indian Prime minister Mr Narendra Modi greeting the people on the occasion of the Ratha Yatra tweeted "My warm greetings to the people on the occasion of the rath yatras that would be held across India today. We bow to Lord Jagannath on this auspicious day. Today once again He sets out on His chariot, giving blessings to the people,". More than a million devotees are expected to throng Puri on the occasion for the festival that is watched by millions on television. The Bahuda yatra or the return journey of Jagannath from Gundicha temple occurred on 7 July and was attended by more than 400,000 devotees
The Ratha Yatra and Pahandi of 2015
The Ratha yatra in Puri of 2015 started on 18 July amid great fanfare and religious fervor with tight security arranged by the authorities.
International Ratha Yatra
The Ratha Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement. By the mercy of Lord Jagannath and Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada successfully transplanted the festival which now happens on an annual basis in places all over the world in over 108 cities including; Moscow, New York, London, Rome, Zürich, Kolkata, Mumbai, Karachi, Berlin, Heidelberg, Cologne, Florence, Wroclaw, Sydney, Perth, Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Mexico City, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham, Alchevsk, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Stockholm, Bath, Budapest, Auckland, Melbourne, Montreal, Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, Santiago, Tallinn, Lima, Antwerp, Sofia, Kuala Lumpur, Oslo, Zhongshan, Myitkyina, Bangkok and many other cities. The Ratha Yatra in Dhamrai, Bangladesh, is one of the most important in Bangladesh.
Service offerings
Jagannath temple employs different kinds of sevakas who offer their services on the Ratha.