Introduction
The Puri Ratha Yatra, an annual festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, is one of India's most significant and grand religious events. Celebrated in the coastal town of Puri in Odisha, this festival attracts millions of devotees and tourists worldwide.
The Ratha Yatra, or Chariot Festival, is marked by the procession of three colossal chariots carrying the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
Here are 20 fascinating facts about the Puri Ratha Yatra that highlight its cultural, religious, and historical significance.
Historical Origins:
The Puri Ratha Yatra of Jagannath, however, is recognised as the most famous of the twelve festivals. However, the Puri Ratha Yatra of Jagannath It is the second important Yatra of Lord Jagannath. It has become well-known that millions of people from India and abroad assemble at Puri in the state of Odisha to watch Lord Jagannath.
The Rig Veda speaks of the Ratha that moved in the air. These were the three-story Rathas drawn by horses.” Panini” also refers to Rayha, while analysing the words ‘ Rathastha, Rathastha, Rathaganak etc.
According to Ramayan, the Ratha which is used in the games is called “ Pusua’, while the Ratha employed by Gods is known as Marut. There are also descriptions of Ratha in Bhagavat, Mahabharat, Vishnu Purana, Kautilya-Arthastra and Sukra Niti.
Narahari Panda in the “ Brahma Prakasika Tika’ of Megha Dutam has successfully interpreted the theme with Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in good style. Ratha Yatra is celebrated at different places in Odisha for 9 days.
The Puri Ratha Yatra dates back to ancient times with references found in scriptures as old as the Puranas. It is believed to have started over 5000 years ago making it one of the oldest festivals in India. The festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
2. The Deities:
On Puri Ratha Yatra day, after the completion of all the rituals for the Lord both in the temple and on the Chariots, Lord Jagannath Mahaprabhu, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out from the “ Ratna bedi” of the magnificent main temple in a ceremonial procession called “ Pahadi Bije”.
They are placed in their respective gigantic raths, standing in front of the temple. Lord Jagannath Maha Prabhu and Balabhadra have separate chariots.
Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshan are placed in one chariot in the middle. On the occasion of the car festival day, when the
Lord is taken ceremoniously to his seat on the chariot, any human being of any caste, creed or religion can go to the Lord, stand very close to him, and embrace and offer worship to one’s heart's content.
The Raja of Puri called “Gajapati” Maharaja is the head of the temple management. The Maharaja of Puri is brought to the chariot to perform the duties of a sweeper.
He holds in his hand a golden broom to sweep the ground around the deities. This is called “ Chera Pohera”.
Thus the Ratha Yatra preaches the gospel that in the eyes of the Lord, all human beings are equal, irrespective of their social status.
The main deities of the Jagannath temple -Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra-are worshipped during Ratha Yatra. These deities are unique as they are made of wood and replaced every 12 to 19 years in a ceremony called “ Nabakalbera”.
3. The Three Chariot Construction:
The three chariots, newly constructed every year and decorated as per the unique scheme prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda “The Grand Avenue”.
It is covered with a bright canopy made of strips of red cloth combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue right in front of the Lion’s Gate.
Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called” Nandighosh”. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven feet in diameter and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth.
The Chariot of Lord Balabhadra, called the “ Taladhwaja’, the one of the palm trees on its flag has fourteen wheels, each of seven feet in diameter and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.
The Chariot of Subhadra, known as “ Darapadalana” literally trampler of pride, is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven feet in diameter. This Chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth, black being traditionally associated with Shakti and Mother goddess.
The Chariots used in the Ratha Yatra are constructed a new every year. Over 1000 logs of wood are used to build the three chariots and the constriction begins on the auspicious day of “Akshaya Tirtya”.The chariots are crafted by the traditional carpenters following strict rituals and measurements.
4. Chhera Pahara Ritual:
The Raja King of Puri Temple, Gajapati Divya Singa Deva is informed of the deities having taken their places on the chariots through a messenger specially deputed by the temple officials.
The king, clad in spotless white, carried in a silverplated pakquin leaves his palace and comes in a small procession on the grand avenue led by the deity seated on the chariot. He then cleans the platform with a golden broom sprinkling flowers and fragrantwater on the surface of the chariot.
This ritual goes back several hundred years and is a symbol of the subjugation of the temporal to the spiritual. The emperors of Odisha beginning with the valiant Anantvarman Chodagangadeva in the 12th Century had declared themselves to be the route, servants of Lord Jagannth.
The ritual is also a public demonstration of the unique philosophy of integration and the unity symbolized by Lord Jagannath.
6. Gundicha Temple:
The Gundicha Temple stands amid a garden just 3 km. from the Jagannath Temple. Located on Bada Danda( Grand Road, on which the famous Ratha Yatra( chariot procession) takes place, the temple is named after Gundicha.
It is the queen of Indradyumna, who commissioned the temple. It sees a lot of activity during the Ratha Yatra festival every year, known by many names like the Garden House of Jagannath of Gods Summer Garden Retreat.
Gundicha Temple is said to be the Vrindavan of Puri. It serves as the temporary home of Lord Jagannath during the Ratha Yatra. Built in the traditional Kalinga style of architecture, Gundicha’s façade is extremely beautiful. Thanks to the light grey sandstone that was used to construct it. The temple also houses a seat called “ Ratna bedi” which is 4 feet high.
The destination of the Ratha Yatra is the Gundicha Temple, located about 3 kilometres from the Jagannath Temple. The deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for seven days before returning to their main abode in a procession called Bahuda Yatra.
7. Deva Snana Purnima:
Deva Snana Purnima, also known as Deva Snana Yatra of the three deities Shree Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra is underway at the famous Srimandir in Puri.
During Deba Snana Purnima, the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are taken out of the Jagannath Temple IN Puri and brought to a sacred bathing spot called “ SNANA BEDI”.
The deities are placed on a bathing platform, and a grand bathing ceremony takes place, where they are bathed with 108 pitchers of water. The water is believed to have medicinal properties and is considered to be highly purifying.
Thousands of devotees gather to witness this auspicious occasion and seek the blessings of the deities. It is believed that by witnessing the ceremonial bath, devotees can attain spiritual purification and be relieved of their sins.
After the Snana Yatra, the deities are placed in a special sick room within the temple, known as the “ Ansara Pindi’.They stay there for 15 days during which they are believed to undergo a period of recuperation. Devotees are not allowed to see the deities during this time.