Rath Yatra, 2023 | Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Rath Yatra, 2023 | Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Rath Yatra is a happy and religious festival in India. Rath Yatra is popularly known as the chariot festival. The term ‘Rath' refers to a chariot and ‘Jatra’ means a procession or journey. This festival is not only observed in different regions of India, but it is also observed in various countries throughout the world. Rath Yatra will be celebrated on Sunday, 7 July in the year, 2024.

However, this festival is mostly celebrated pompously with Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha. It is also celebrated in other cities across the country. Rath Yatra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is regarded as one of the most popular festivals in India.

Rath Yatra is dedicated to Lord Jagannath along with his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Lord Jagannath is regarded as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of the deities on their decorated chariots. These chariots are pulled by the devotees through the streets.

The preparations for Rath Yatra begin well in advance. At this time, the constructions of huge chariots are built. These are known as ‘Rathas’. These Chariots are built using specific measurements and designs. The Chariots are made entirely of wood. Each chariot is dedicated to a specific deity. Lord Jagannath's chariots are made the largest. Next, Lord Balabhadra's chariot is made larger and therefore goddess Subhadra’s chariot is made large.

After the grand decoration of all three chariots, a long procession is made ready around the city. The journey is made along with chanting, singing and dancing. The devotees pull the chariots through the streets. The journey covers a distance from the Jagganath temple to the Gundicha temple. It is believed that Gundicha temple is the birthplace of Lord Jagganath.

However, the grand procession of Rath Yatra is a spectacular scene to behold. At this time, streets come alive with the sound of devotional songs, drum beatings etc. Therefore, the procession of Rath Yatra holds immense religious and cultural significance for devotees. It symbolizes the journey of the deities from their abode to visit their aunt’s house. It is mentioned in Hindu mythology. It is believed that anyone who gets the opportunity to pull these Chariots or even touch the ropes attains great spiritual merit.

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