Jagannath Rath Yatra

 

History

Ratha Yatra festival is celebrated every year on second day of the shukla pakshya of the month of Ashad in the Orissa state of India at Puri to perform the procession of the Lord Jagannath chariots from the Puri Jagannath temple to the Gundicha Mata temple through the Mausi Maa temple. The chariots having the statue of Hindu God and Goddess are attractively decorated with colorful flowers.

The holy procession includes highly decorated three chariots, for Lord Puri Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra, much similar to temples, which are pulled by the electric system or by the devotees throughout the streets at Puri. This festival attracts a huge crowd of the devotees from all over the world to take part in the holy procession of the God as well as fulfill their heartily wishes. People involved in the chariots pulling, sing devotional songs and mantras with the sound of drum.

Rituals

On the day of the initiation of this Yatra, all the people at Puri get up early in the morning and take bath. After this purification bath, they offer prayers to the Lord at their homes and then head towards the Jagannath Temple. The massive chariots on which the Lord has to be taken out in a procession are lined up in front of the temple only.

It is after the devotees have reached the temple, that the contemporary king of the region brings the deities from the temple and installs them on their respective chariots. This ceremony is observed with a great pomp and show, and is followed by massive prayers offered to the Lord by his devotees.

It is after this that the off springs of the king arrive on gaily-caparisoned elephants to the temple. They, then sweep all the platforms of the Lord’s chariot with a gold-handled broom. Thereafter, scented water is sprinkled on the chariot by them and mopping is done.

This ritual associated with this Yatra demonstrates that every human being is equal to God irrespective of his caste, color or creed. But, this bringing out of the idols of the Lord from the temple can only be done by either the King of Puri or the King of Nepal for they only belong to the Chandravanshi dynasty of Lord Krishna. A very interesting but strange ritual associated with this chariot festival is that the devotees chuck various possible obscenities and sacrilegious abuses at the God. The reason for this as per a local saying is an incestuous relationship between Jagannath and his sister Subhadra. Metaphorically, this entire yatra comes as a symbolic humanization of God. Thus, it is an attempt to bring the Lord down from his glorious pedestal to a human level.

Significance

Yatra is the most famous and ritual part of the worship in the Hindu religion. It is of two types, one is the Yatra made by the devotees all around the temple and another one is the Chariot Yatra of the Hindu deities in a well decorated chariot from one temple to another. Ratha Yatra is the second type of the Yatra celebrated annually to perform the journey of Lord Jagannath with Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra from the Puri Jagannath temple to the Gundicha Mata temple. It is considered that the Vamana avatar means the dwarf form of the Lord Vishnu was an incarnation of the Lord Jagannath (who is free from the cycle of birth and death).

Yatra is the most significant event occurred during the special and sacred occasions of the Hindu religion. Lord Jagannath is the Hindu deity whom incarnation was the Lord Krishna on the earth in the Dwapar Yuga. This special festival of holy journey of the chariot is carried out by the devotees, saints, scriptures, poets chanting the holy mantras and devotional songs. People want to touch the chariot or even ropes pulling the chariot to be blessed by the God. Devotees sing a special Oriya song at this day while pulling the holy chariot on wheels.

If it is not possible to take bath in Ganga on Ganga Dussehra pray at some other river or reservoir or with pure water at home as per the convenience. After that should do recital pooja in front of idol of Ganga. The idol of Ganga is considered as Trinetr, quadrilateral, adorned with white clothes and white lotus. King Bhagirath and Himalaya should also be worshipped which is highly recommended during Ganga pooja. Lord Shiva is the prime deity to be worship during the Ganga Pooja as he is sole owner and holder of river Ganga and by grace of his mercy only sent the river on earth for the welfare of mankind. The donation of ten eatable items mainly fruits and black sesame seeds are considered most auspicious.

• Devotees visit the holy river and take a dip in its pious water.
• They offer leaf boats containing ‘diya’, sweets and flowers to the river.
• Pilgrims chant Mantra, ‘shlokas’ and recite various hymns in the praise of Goddess Ganga.
• People get involved in the events of charity such as donating umbrellas, clothes, shoes to the needy people.
• In the evening time, devotees stand on the steps of various ‘Ghats’ and do the ritual of ‘Ganga Aarti’. It is a beautiful sight to see so many people immersed in devotion towards Goddess Ganga.
• Those devotees, who cannot visit River Ganga, offer their prayers to the deity at their place itself.
• They clean the praying area and place the idol or a picture of Goddess Ganga.
• Holy Ganga water is sprinkled in the whole house for purification.
• Devotees then do the recital ‘pooja’ in front of the idol.
• Lord Shiva is considered as the sole owner of the river Ganga and therefore special prayers are held this day to seek his blessings for getting success and well-being.
• King Bhagirath is also worshipped on this day. River Ganga is also called, ‘Bhagirathi’ because it was King Bhagirath who got her on the earth from the ‘Kamandal’ of Lord Brahma.
• It is a ritual to donate ten fruits, ten sweets and sesame seeds on this day.