Rath Yatra Festival of Orissa
Name of Festival : Rath Yatra Festival
Major Territory of Celebration
Rath Yatra Festival is celebrated in Orissa,India
Time of celebration (Months)
This spectacular chariot festival celebrated for 8 days in month of june and held at the famous Jaganath Temple at Puri (Orissa).
Worship in Festival
People worship the Lord Jagannath in this Festival
About Festival
Ratha Yatra is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in India state of Orissa. Every year in time of mid-summer, Lord Jagannath, with his sister Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra goes on vacation, travelling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his garden palace in the countryside .The festival is also known as Ghosa Jatra,Dasavatara Jatra , Gundicha Jatra, Navadina Jatra and by a variety of other names.
Festival :
In this festival there are 3 richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri. These 3 chariots are go from main temple to Gundicha Temple, where they remain for nine days. In this festival New chariots are built every year. Only this day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities.
Devotees from all over the World come to Puri with desire to help pull Lords’ chariot with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes to Gundicha Mandir. Main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels.
After the festival, the raths are broken and bits are used for firewood in the kitchens or sold to pilgrims as relics. New chariots are made each year to rigid specifications of make laid down in temple’s ancient manuals.Construction of the chariots begin as early as April.
