Posted On: 2022-07-01 14:56:59
The much-anticipated Rath Yatra also called Ratha Yatra or Car Festival Puri begins on Friday, July 1, 2022. The celebration of this day begins considerably earlier, with the construction and decoration of the Rathas or Chariots by a large number of devotees and volunteers. The three chariots that serve as the centrepiece of the Yatra are propelled by strings.
Rath Yatra or Jatra is the celebration of Lord Jagannath's travel to his aunt's residence, which is thought to be the Lord of the Universe. Albeit it is a Hindu shrine, this chariot festival is not affiliated with any one denomination of Hinduism in its entirety, though there are some characteristics that are shared by Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Jagannath Rath Yatra is almost 5,000 years old, and the most spiritual aspect is that the festival has followed the same procedures since its inception. This festival would not undergo any alterations. The Rath Yatra celebration is traditionally held in Puri, Odisha, every year.
Lord Jagannatha, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and his sister Devi Subhadra are all worshipped throughout this world-famous event.
“When the sacred images are at length brought forth and placed
upon their chariots, thousands fall on their knees
and bow their foreheads in the dust.
The vast multitude shouts with one throat and surging
backwards and forwards drag the wheeled
edifices down the broad streets
towards the country house of Lord Jagannath.”
- Imperial District Gazetteer, Puri, 1886
Annually, the Jagannath Temple celebrates 148 festivals, including 12 yatras, 28 upayatras, and 108 ceremonial feasts. The Ratha Yatra celebration of Jagannath Deva, held in the month of Asadha (June-July), is the most well-known of these, gathering thousands of devotees from all over the world each year.
This yearly Ratha Yatra is a rare time when the general population, particularly the elderly and the sick, who are unable to attend the temple, may have the darshan of their adored deities. Furthermore, indigenous beliefs and texts such as open religious festivals assuage anxieties about disasters and deaths.
Aside from the numerous mentions of this Ratha yatra in the Puranas, the earliest literary evidence in Odisha of the Ratha yatra at Puri comes from a 10th-11th century CE drama written during the reign of the Somvanshi dynasty, which speaks of Lord Purusottama's (Jagannatha's) yatra near the sea shore.
The oldest iconographical evidence of this Ratha yatra dates back to the Ganga period (13th-14th century CE), when a frieze from a temple in Dhanmandal, north Odisha, portrays the three Rathas, each drawn by a large number of worshippers.
The three rathas, which are designed as Rekha duel-style temples, are currently identifiable by their size, colour, and several wheels. Jagannatha's Ratha (also known as Nandighosa) has 16 wheels and is dressed in red and yellow attire.
Daruka is the ratha's charioteer, Sankhachuda is the ratha rope, and the four white wooden horses tied to this ratha are named Sankha, Balahaka, Sweta, and Haridaswa. Balabhadra's Ratha (Taladhvaja) is a 14-wheeled vehicle with crimson and green fabric coverings.
Balabhadra's Ratha rope is Vasuli, his charioteer is Matali, and the four black wooden horses tied to this ratha are Tibra, Ghora, Dirghasrama, and Swarnanabha.
Subhadra's Ratha (also known as Darpadalana or Deviratha) is dressed in crimson and black and has 12 wheels. Arjun is her Ratha's charioteer.
Rochika, Mochika, Jita, and Aparajita are the names of the four red wooden horses affixed to her ratha. Swarnachuda creates her ratha rope.
As per Financial Express Arrangements for the Ratha Yatra begin early each year, with the building of new chariots beginning on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya. The charioteers, horses, temple kalasas, and Parsha devatas, on the other hand, are only produced during the Nabakalebara (new deity-making ritual).
On Sri Gundicha day, after the Duel Purohit performs the Ratha Pratistha puja, a procession begins from the Jagannath temple shrine to the rathas, a tradition called Pahandi. Sudarsana is escorted to Subhadra's ratha first, followed by Balabhadra in a procession.
The Daitapatis and other sevakas then carry Subhadra to her ratha, and ultimately, Jagannath is carried to his Ratha. The Mahajan Sevakas then carry Madanmohan to the rathas, and Gajapati Maharaja (King of Puri) conducts the Chhera Pahamra.
The king is dressed as a sweeper in this ceremony, and he sweeps (chhera) and cleans (pahamra) all around the rathas with a gold-handled broom while spraying sandalwood powder and water.
The Odishan monarchs' relationship with the Jagannath deva grew tight when King Anangabhima III named Sri Jagannatha the state god of Odisha in 1230 CE, and the kings became representational rulers (mudarasta) under the deity's supreme over-lordship.
This huge Chhera Pahamra ceremony, known as the Gajapati Maharaja Seva, remains the most significant "royal duty," making the "Maharaja" of Puri a crucial element of the celebration even now, despite monarchy being long obsolete.
Chhera Pahamra is performed twice: once at the commencement of the Ratha Yatra and once on the final day of the yatra, when the deities are returned to the Jagannath Mandir.
After Chhera Pahamra, the rathas begin their trip and are drawn by a large number of worshippers to the Gundicha Temple, which is about 3 kilometres distant, where the deities dwell for nine days.
On the last day, the deities are returned to Jagannath Mandir in their respective rathas in bahuda Jatra (ulta ratha yatra).
On their route back, the three chariots halt at the Mausi Maa Temple for bhog, which is Poda Pitha.
Filaantro in association with Child help Foundation will also be a part of the Ratha Yatra where more than 10,000 devotees will be given free warm meals.
The triads are usually worshipped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri during the Jagannath Ratha Yatra, but once during the month of Asadha (Rainy Season of Odisha, usually in the months of June or July), they are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel (3 km) to the Shri Gundicha Temple in huge chariots Ratha, allowing the public to have darana.
Rath Yatra, or Ratha Yatra, is the name given to this celebration. The Rathas are massive wheeled wooden constructions that are rebuilt every year and dragged by worshippers. The Shri Gundicha Yatra is another name for the Ratha Yatra.
The chhera pahara is the most important ceremony linked with the Ratha Yatra. During the celebration, the Gajapati King dons a sweeper's attire and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (water sweeping) rite.
With great devotion, the Gajapati King sweeps the path in front of the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder.
According to tradition, despite being the most powerful person in the Kalingan realm, the Gajapati King still does menial tasks for Jagannath. This rite demonstrated that, under Jagannath's rule, there is no distinction between the strong sovereign Gajapati King and the lowliest devotee.
Chera pahara takes place on two days: the first day of the Ratha Yatra, when the deities are escorted to the garden house at Mausi Maa Temple, and the end day of the festival, when the deities are ceremoniously returned to the Shri Mandir.
Another ceremonial occurs when the deities are transported from the Shri Mandir to the Chariots at Pahandi Vijay.
During the Ratha Yatra, the three deities are transported on chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, where they reside for nine days. The deities ride the chariots back to Shri Mandir in bahuda jatra.
On the journey back, the three chariots stop at the Mausi Maa Temple, where the goddesses are served Poda Pitha, a type of baked cake popular in Odisha.
The Ratha Yatra of Jagannath has been observed since the time of the Puranas. This event is described in detail in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Skanda Purana. Ratha Yatra is also mentioned in Kapila Samhita.
In the Mughal period, King Ramsingh of Jaipur, Rajasthan, was said to have organised the Ratha Yatra in the 18th century. The Ratha Yatra was organised in Odisha by the Kings of Mayurbhanj and Parlakhemundi, while the most spectacular celebration in terms of grandeur and popularity is held in Puri.
atmanam rathinam viddhi sariram rathameva tu
buddhim tu sarathim viddhi manh pragrahameva cha
indrayani hayarmahur visayam stenu gocharan
atmendriaya monoyuktam bhoktetyahur manasinah.
(Translation: Body is the chariot, the soul is the charioteer. Senses are horses. Mind is the bridle. All the sensory objects constitute the root of the horses. The coordination among the soul, senses and mind will finally bring Moksha).
(Source: Katha Upanishad 1.3.3–4 )
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