Jagannath Rath Yatra 2022: History, Significance, Rituals and Timings of Festival in Puri

JAGANNATH RATH YATRA 2022: One of the most prominent Hindu festivals, Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha will be celebrated today on July 1. Every year, the festival is celebrated with all the traditional rituals on the Shukla Paksha Dwitiya Tithi of the month of Ashadha according to the Hindu calendar.

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On this day, Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, comes out of the 12th century temple and rides on chariots to the Gundicha temple. This is the only occasion in a year when the deity leaves the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple and stays in the Gundicha temple for 9 days.

Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri will be allowed for public for the first time in two years.  (Image: News18)
Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri will be allowed for public for the first time in two years. (Image: News18)

date and time

According to the Panchang, Rath Yatra is taken out on the second date of Shukla Paksha of Ashadh month. This year Dwitiya Tithi will start from 10:49 am on 30th June and will be effective till 01:09 pm on 1st July. Since the sun will rise on the second date on July 1, this festival will be celebrated today. Friday.

History and Significance

It is believed that this is the only occasion of the year when Lord Jagannath, the lord of the universe, comes out of the temple for his devotees, who cannot go inside the temple. According to another legend, as promised to Gundicha, the then queen of King Indradyumna, Lord Jagannath visits the temple in the name of the queen once a year.

Every year, during the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra leave their regular abode at the main temple and visit Gundicha Temple, which is about 3 km from the Jagannath Temple. Then, they stay there for eight days. It is also believed that on the fourth day of the Rath Yatra, Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Jagannath, comes to the Gundicha temple in search of the Lord.

After staying at the Gundicha temple for eight days, the deities make their homecoming journey on the ninth day, which is known as Bahuda Yatra. This day is celebrated on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Ashadh month.

rituals

Before the Rath Yatra, the Gundicha temple is cleaned by the devotees of Lord Jagannath for their pleasant stay. On the day of the Yatra, three different chariots are prepared for Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. A huge crowd draws the chariots of the three to reach the destination.

The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called Nandighosh, the chariot of Lord Balabhadra is called Taladhwaja and that of Goddess Subhadra is called Darpadalana. On the day of Rath Yatra the deities are carried on chariots by the servants in a traditional procession known as Pahari Bije.

After that the king of Puri, who is known as Gajapati and is the first servant of Lord Jagannath, purifies the chariots. This is called Chhera Pahad, during which the chariots are cleaned. After this ritual, the chariots are pulled by the devotees towards the Gundicha temple.

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