A centuries-old festival (about 460 years), the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra or the Jagannath Car festival in Puri, Orissa is the largest festival in India held by Hindus every year. This Rath Yatra is also mentioned in the Hindu religious texts Brahma Purana, Skanda Purana and Padma Purana.
The chariot procession held in India is counted among the oldest processions in the world; The city of Pilgrim Puri welcomes lakhs of devotees during the majestic chariot festival. This grand festival holds cultural, religious and social significance among the people or devotees. In this yatra, Lord Jagannath along with his brother Lord Balaram and sister Goddess Subhadra journey in rath from Jagannath Temple in Puri to Gundicha Mata Temple, his aunt's house. Here are some very interesting facts about Rath Yatra this year, you must be curious to know about this grand chariot festival.
- This yatra is performed by the Lord along with his brother Balarama and sister Goddess Subhadra in different chariots - this is also called the chariot festival. Lord Jagannath's chariot, the red and yellow Nandigosha (other name Garudadhwaja and Kapiladhwaja) is about 44 feet tall - mounted on 18 wheels. While the 43 feet high Taladwaja, Lord Balarama's chariot moves on 16 wheels - it is decorated with Red and Bluish-Green colours. And, the Padmadhwaja, the chariot of Goddess Subhadra in red and black, this chariot set on 14 wheels.
- Every year the chariots are newly constructed, and the construction of the giant chariots begins on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. In which special type of Neem tree wood is used. However, it is later broken and used in the temple kitchen as firewood for cooking the holy offerings (Prasad) of the Lord. Every year around 1400 carpenters complete this task to make the chariots for the festival. The dimensions of chariots remain irreversible, as the carpenters measure it without the aid of a measuring tape; The hands and fingers are used through an ancient technique to measure the length and width of vehicles. Not even a single metal nail is used in the entire chariot construction process, instead only wooden pegs and joints are used.
- The tops of the chariots of Lord Jagannath and the other two deities are made in such a way that it looks similar to the structure of the temple towers built in the north Indian style. About 1200 metres of cloth is used to make chariot canopies, which a team of 15 skilled tailors completes the work.
- The glory of God is awe, this centuries-old festival is not complete without mystical rainfall. According to the inscriptions, if it is considered deeply, there has not been a single Rath Yatra in which it has not rained in the Rath Yatra, whatever it may be. Even at times it happens that the monsoon does not come before the Rath Yatra, but even then it rains on that day during the Rath Yatra. The festival is celebrated with rainfall every year without fail.
- Before the commencement of the Yatra, when the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and installed in their respective chariots, whch is called Pahandi custom. The Gajapati (king) of Puri then cleans the road with a gold broom and scented water before moving ahead of the chariots and fortifies it with sandalwood paste. This ritual is called Chera Pahara. Clearing the path of God is a symbol of the fact that the king is also a servant of God. This ritual is also repeated on the last day of the yatra.
- According to many devotees who attended the Rath Yatra festival in Puri, they say that the chariot of Lord Jagannath at first refuses to move even after lakhs of devotees' efforts. It seems that Lord Jagannath is reluctant to move, but after a few hours of cosmic efforts, finally 'Dahuka boli' is sung in local folklore, the chariot procession starts moving forward.
- The Jagannath Temple of Puri is one of the few other orthodox Hindu temples, with many restrictions being followed on regular days. In which only people of Hindu religion are allowed to enter the premises to see and worship the deities in the temple. However, there is nothing like this during Rath Yatra, on this day followers of any other religion can participate in the Yatra of Lord Jagannath, have a glimpse of his idol and seek his blessings. Everyone can worship God - entry is open to all person.
- The main door of Jagannath Puri temple is kept closed a week before the chariot festival. It is said that after the Lord takes his annual bath, he gets high fever. Therefore before the Ratha Yatra the Lord rests in the sanctum sanctorum for a period of one week and while resting the Lord is not allowed to be disturbed. After rest, Bhagwan goes to his aunt's house for transformation.
- The word Jagannath originated from the word Juggernaut in English, the English name of "God of the Universe". It represents "a huge, powerful and overwhelming force" and is also considered to be due to the huge and heavy chariot of Lord Jagannath in a devotional emotional form. Lord Vishnu lives in a huge temple in Puri with his brother Balrama and sister Subhadra in jagannath form. The British had coined the term taking inspiration from the giant chariot when they saw huge chariots during the Rath Yatra festival.
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