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Jagannatha Ratha Yatra

Jagannatha Rath Yatra is celebrated on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha, is a festival that celebrates the annual visit of the god to his place of birth. The famous Jagannatha Temple at Puri, Orissa is the venue for all celebrations. All those who reside in Puri and others, who come to participate, celebrate this event with devotion and respect. Several lakh people converge at Puri every year to witness this event.

On the morning of the second day of Ashadha, images of the presiding deities of the temple, Jagannatha, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra, are taken in a chariot to Gundicha Ghar. This is believed to be the birthplace of Jagannatha. On the way, they stop to meet their aunt, who feeds them with padoa pitha, or specially baked rice cakes. After a while, they continue their journey to Gundicha Ghar. They stay there for a week and then return to the temple. On the journey there and back, they are accompanied by a huge procession of people, singing and celebrating. As with royal processions in days gone by, the people rejoice at having a special persona in their midst.

Each deity has its own massive chariot, which are replicas of the temple. They are made of neem (Azidirachta indica) wood. Jagannatha's chariot is called Nandighosha, is yellow in colour, 45 ft high, 35 ft square, and has 16 wheels, of which each one has a seven-foot diameter. About 4,200 devotees draw the chariot. Balabhadra's chariot is called Taladhvaja, is blue in color and has 14 wheels. Subhadra's chariot is the smallest, with 12 wheels and is called Deviratha. Later myths pertaining to Jagannatha made it compulsory for the statue to be carried once a year to the original birthplace. Since his first journey was by chariot, this became part of the tradition.