Bengali Festival Rath Yatra

[Tandrima2]

Caption : Photo collage of Rath Yatra in Krishnagar

I am going to share about the Bengali festival Rath Yatra. This festival was held a few days ago. I should have posted about this festival some days ago but I couldn’t post it in time due to particular busy schedule.

Rath Yatra is one of the major Hindu festival held in the bengali month of Ashad. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal of India. Now it is held worldwide. The festival is considered the oldest and largest Hindu festival.

Caption : Photo of different types of Rath

This festival was first started in the city of Puri in Odisha. The festival is held on the second day of the Bengali month Ashad Shukla Tithi. Shukla Tithi is the Bengali date or time. This festival is largely held in the city of Puri in Odisha. At the Puri, the festival is celebrated in a grand manner and many people come from outside to see it.

Now let me tell how this Rath Yatra festival is. First of all, the Rath means chariot and Yatra means journey. Rath Yatra means Journey on the Chariot. It is known as a Chariot festival. Hindu God Jagannath and his two siblings, elder brother Balaram and sister Subhadra, ride to this chariot. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Jagannath and his two siblings went to their aunt’s house ridding to the chariot. Every year on this day of the Bengali month, they went to their aunt’s house in a chariot. According to that custom, Rath Yatra is held on this day. Jagannath is a avatar of lord Krishna.

At this time the city Puri is crowded. Millions visitors come to visit and worship the God. The idols of the three gods are kept in three huge chariots. The chariots are decorated with flowers and various other beautiful things. Many pilgrims,devotees and priest come to this place. The chariots are tied with ropes. The millions people gather near the chariot and those people pull the chariot by holding the rope. Thus they participate in this joyous festival. Visitors march with thtee chariots at the grand road of Puri town.

Caption : Decoration of Rath in Krishnagar

3 idoler are taken to the Gundicha Temple in Odisha. To the Gundicha Temple is believed to be their aunt’s home. The chariot is taken to Gundicha Temple after covering a distance of three km. According to mythology, Jagannath and his siblings stay at his aunt’s house for the next nine days of the Rath Yatra. After staying nine days, they again return to their home riding their chariots. Following this custom, the Rath Yatra is held again after nine days. Nine days later the chariots are brought back from the Gundicha temple to the temple of Lord Jagannath. The returning of these chariots are called “Ultorath”(উল্টোরথ) in Bengal. “Ultorath” means returning of the Chariots.

Caption : Photo collage of Rath in Krishnagar

I have told about the Rath Yatra of Puri in Odisha, now I will tell about the Rath Yatra of Krishnanagar in West Bengal. This year the Rath Yatra is celebrated on 20 June and the Ulto Rath Yatra is held on 28 June. Rath Yatra is also celebrated with great pomp in the districts of West Bengal.

Caption : The people are merching on the road joyfully with the Rath and some of them playing drum in Krishnagar

In Krishnanagar, priests and other religious people take their own chariots out on the streets. They carry the idols of Jagannath and his siblings on their own chariots and take the procession through the streets. Many people take part in that procession in Krishnanagar. Together they all pull the chariot through the road. Children also make their own small chariots and drag them along the road. This scene looks really amazing. Children, Youth, Old people, Men, Women, Families, Relatives and Friends all join this joyous festival.

Caption : Kids are dragging their handmade rath on the road

Various stalls are kept beside the road. You can get many stalls like food stalls including fast foods and many types of sweets, toy stalls, stalls of handicrafts etc. Krishnanagar is famous for clay dolls, you will find many clay doll stalls here. During the Rath Yatra, the priests distribute some special foods among the devotees. In Bengali word this special food is called Prasad(প্রসাদ). All the devotees eat this special food and they believe that eating it will bring blessings of the Lord Jagnnath. In Krishnanagar, Bengali food Khichuri(খিচুড়ি) and Batasa(বাতাসা) are distributed as Prasad. The special food of Rath Yatra is Papad and Jalebi. Jalebi is a sweet snack which is popular very much in West Bengal. The other name of Papad is Papadam. The dish is made with dry heat. The food is prepared by deep frying. Everyone, young and old, loves to eat this food. You will see many Jalebi and Papad stalls when you come to see the Rath Yatra in West Bengal.

Caption : Priests are given Prasad to the people

Caption : photo collage of people are standing with the Prasad

Caotion : Photo collage stalls of clay dolls

Caption : Photo of Jalebi

Caption : Photo Collage of stalls of Papad and the people are standing with Papad

Caption : Photo collage of some handicrafts

Caotion : Photo collage of stalls in Krishnagar

This festival is favourite very much

to me so I shared it with everyone.

I am very sorry for not posting this in proper time. Actually my final exam of graduation course is about to start. My exam is going to start from next week. So I have been very busy with my study schedule for a few days. For this reason I couldn’t not post this in time. You may have seen many posts on this topic before my posting. But still I request everyone to read my post once. As I like this festival very much, so I have posted this despite of being so busy schedule. My purpose is to give everyone an idea about this festival. So please read this post everyone and let me know how successful I am in giving ideas about this festival. Those who do not yet know about these festival and those who know about this please give feedback.

@TravellerG @SanjayBDLG @PaDeSSo @SholaIB @SachinVijayan @Gurukrishnapriya @renata1 @MohammadPalash @DENIT33

@PattyBlack I am tagging all of you for reading my post and give me your suggestions

[Tandrima2]

@waza28 @MdRatul @NareshDarji @Mikeinthefalls @FranciscoRodriguez @Rajeevkodakara @SagarKulkarni @Anonymous_4c976fb2d9f1b932f3d193a1f71ff5bc @Gezendunyali @Anonymous_b94cf02d9eeadbc2e4ca1e27a5054b05 Please read my post and give me your suggestions

[Gurukrishnapriya]

Never mind being late in posting this writeup @Tandrima2 . You have given a wonderful information. All the pictures are very beautiful. Festivals are really great celebrations.

In Chennai too we have Jagannath Temple and Rath yatra is celebrated on the same day as in Puri.

Photo of Puri Jagannath Temple Chennai. Picture taken by during the night Aarti.

[PrasadVR]

Hello @Tandrima2 Thank you for sharing Rathayatra festival in minute details with photos. It’s nice. Please keep contributing. All the best

[Tandrima2]

@DshottDennis @rashedul-alam @GFG07171 @JustJake @2401 @MonirHB @MehadeHasan @indahnuria @MiladD @IamJoseFelixAranda I am tagging all of you for reading this post and give your feedback.

[Tandrima2]

Thank you so much @Gurukrishnapriya for your comment and sharing the picture.Temple is very beautiful.I shall definitely visit this temple if I ever get a chance to visit in the future.Thank you again.

[Tandrima2]

Thank you so much @PrasadVR for your comment.I am very glad that you read and like my post.

[Tandrima2]

@Pratik_89 @HASHIM_AK @KamalHossenR @Rakshi2 @NasimJ @Bikramshrestha @Yotaroh @MahabubMunna @Saiyen @Amiran

I am tagging you for reading this post.If you read this post I shall be very happy.

[IamJoseFelixAranda]

@Tandrima2 The Bengali Festival Rath Yatra is one beautyful event and your favourite.I has History,legends,epic episodes,and I understand the reasons making millions of people to see it and enjoy it live every year.This is a high level post.

[KamalHossenR]

Dear @Tandrima2

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the incredible insights and information you provided about the Rath Yatra festival. Your detailed description of the festival’s significance, traditions, and celebrations in different regions of India, particularly in Puri and Krishnanagar, was truly captivating.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for the Rath Yatra festival. Your contribution to Local Guides Connect not only educates but also inspires readers to appreciate and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of India. Your writing truly brings the festival to life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from your expertise.

Best regards.

[HASHIM_AK]

Don’t feel sorry for sharing it late.Sharing is the most important thing.People would have many problems in their,so sharing late is not that much important.

Thank you for sharing the Ratha Yatra Festival to us.Your pictures and details are very good.

You can contribute more in the future by sharing many things.

@Tandrima2

[Sachinvibhute11592]

Very nicely explained with details.

[K.K.Sharma]

@Tandrima2 thank you for tagging me otherwise I might have missed reading this informative post. You have given all information related to Rath Yatra in a very lucid manner. Selection of pics and their presentation is very impressive.

[PattyBlack]

Grazie per avermi taggato @Tandrima2 hai raccontato molto bene questo festival con molti preziosi dettagli. Non importa se non sei riuscita a pubblicare prima, le informazioni saranno utili a chi programmerá un viaggio per il prossimo anno. Mi è piaciuto molto leggere della partecipazione attiva dei bambini con i loro piccoli carri, in questo modo si tramandano le tradizioni alle future generazioni

I miei complimenti per il post e i miei migliori auguri per il tuo esame!

Un caro saluto dall’Italia

[DENIT33]

Hello @Tandrima2 ,

You don’t need to publish the post in real time, don’t worry.

I really enjoy reading your post, thanks for sharing information and photos, despite you are under pressure for school study.

I wish you good luck.

Many greetings

[JustJake]

Hi @Tandrima2 , thank you for sharing this amazing festival with us. I cannot imagine seeing so many people coming together for one evening, that’s incredible.

Do you know how many years Rath Yatra has been recognized?

[Tandrima2]

Thank you so much @IamJoseFelixAranda for reading my post.I am very happy that you like this post.

[Tandrima2]

Thank you so much @KamalHossenR for your kind words and appreciating this post.I is lot to me that you like this post.

[Tandrima2]

Thank you so much @HASHIM_AK for your appreciation.I am very glad that you like this post.

[Tandrima2]

Thank you so much @Sachinvibhute11592 for your appreciation and your comment