Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra

Daily Worship Time-table:-
05 A.M. : Dwara Pitha & Mangalal Alati
06 A.M. : Mailam
09 A.M. : Gopala Ballava Puja
11 A.M. : Madhynha Dhupa

Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra Puri

Rath Yatra or chariot festival is celebrated by Hindus on the second day of Sukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Ashadh.The festival is held every year in the month of June-July .This festival is popularly known as Ratha Yatra, Gundicha Yatra and also Ghosha Yatra. On the Car Festival day, the deities are taken out of the temple and placed in their respective chariots, kept near the Singhadwar. The deities are carried to the chariots in a traditional ceremonial manner-first Sudarshana, followed by Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. Balabhadra and Jagannath are made to swing forward and backward in a manner called 'Pahandi'.

The chariot of Lord Jagannath is known as Nandighosha. It has 16 (sixteen). wheels and the colour of the fabrics that cover the roof of the chariot are red and yellow. The chariot of Lord Balabhadra is known as Taladhwaja. It has 14 (fourteen) wheels and the colours of the fabrics are red and green. Subhadra's chariot 'Devadalana' has 12 (twelve) wheels and fabrics are red and black. Sudarshan is seated by the side of Subhadra in her chariot. Madanmohan, a representative deity of Jagannath sits in the chariot of Lord Jagannath. So also two other small idols -Rama and Krishna take their seats in the chariot of Balabhadra. These small idols are made of metal. Thus actually seven deities namely Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Sudarshana, Madanmohan, Rama and Krishna are seated on three chariots and moved to a temple known as 'Gundicha Ghar' which is at a distance of about 3 kms from Jagannath Temple. The chariot of Balabhadra is dragged first, followed by those of Subhadra and Jagannath.
'Snana Pumima’ marks the beginning of this festival. On this day the three deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra take prolonged bath on an open platform known as ‘Snana Bedi’, Then they retire for 15 days popularly called the period of ‘Anabasara’ and remain in isolation, because the idols are supposed to be down with 'fever'.
After 15 days of isolation, the Gods come out of the temple in a colourful procession, with the accompanying of cymbals, drums and music, to board their respective chariots and thereafter begins the journey known as “Rath Yatra’.
The king of Puri himself comes to the chariots, and with a broom, having a silver handle, performs the "Chhera Panhara" (the sweeping of chariots), only after which the journey begins.

On the first day if any chariot cannot reach the Gundicha Ghar, it is dragged on the next day. On the ninth day i.e. the Return Car Festival day, the deities are brought to the Singhadwar area of the Jagannath Temple. An important ritual performed, on the 5th day (starting from and including the day of Car Festival) is known as 'Hera Panchami', when goddess Laxmi proceeds to Gundicha Ghar to see Lord Jagannath. Nine days later, the idols return to the main Jagannath temple in a similar procession known as "Bahuda Yatra" (return journey) or the return car festival. In the evening of the lOth day (i.e. the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Asadha) the deities are adorned with gold ornaments and dressed gorgeously in their respective chatiots parked in the Simhadwar area. On the same day another ritual called 'Hari Sayan Ekadasi' is performed. On the following day i.e. the 12th day of the bright fortnight, important ceremony known as' Adharapana Bhog' is performed. A sweet drink is offered to the deities. On the evening of the following day, the deities are taken to the temple in a traditional procession amidst gathering of thousands of devotees.

Beliefs behind Rath-Yatra

lt is believed that those who take part in the Car Festival earn their passage to the Heaven as Lord Jagannath, Lord of the Universe, comes out of His sanctum sanctorum to give 'darshan' (audience) to all devotees belonging to all sects and communities.
Temples in Puri urya Yantra temple,
 Ksetrapala temple,
 Nrsimha temple,
 Jalakrida Mandapa, (Note- All ceremonial
baths of the deities are held here.),
 Jogesvara temple,
aksigopala temple,
 Kanci Ganesa temple,
 Khira Choragopinatha temple,
 Panchasakti temple,
 Nila Madhava temple,
 Laksminarayana temple,
 Navagraha temple,
 Sarya Candra temple,
 Goplnatha and Ramcandra temple,
 Patalesvara temple,
 Padapadma temple,
 Ramacandra temple,
 Caitanya temple,
 Hanuman temple,
 Caturdhama temple,(Note - This Caturdhama temple houses the four deities worshipped in the four dhamas of India and the images are in a miniature form.)Apart from these temples, there are some more important places in the temple complex, two of which deserve special mention.
(a) Koili Vaikuntha is located in between the outer and the inner compound wall of the north -western corner. It is traditionally believed to be the place where Krisna was cremated after he was killed by Jara Savara. There fore when the Nava Kalevara ceremony takes place, new images are fashioned and the old ones are buried here only.
(b) The Niladri Vihar is a small museum where we can see, with the help of colorfully painted models, the legendary emergence of Jagannatha as the presiding deity of the temple.

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