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Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

Happy Rath YatraHappy Rath Yatra

“Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare”

 

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Jagannath (Lord of Universe) जगन्नाथ 

You might have heard this english word “juggernaut”. Do you know that this English loanword juggernaut in the sense of "a huge wagon bearing an image of a Hindu god" Jagannath, the “Lord of the Universe.” Jagannath, a form of the god Vishnu, presides over a massive temple in Puri, India

 

The Chariot Festival (Rath Yatra), or the festival of vehicles, is one of the most important festivals India is waiting for in June and July, according to the years of celebration, in the province of Puri, on the Bay of Bengal.

 

All three chariots of dieties ready to be pulled by devoteesAll three chariots of dieties ready to be pulled by devotees

This post is for my foreign friends, I wish to make them know about this festival and culture.

As soon as the monsoon clouds reign heavy on the eastern coast of India, the beach town of Puri turns into a gigantic campsite. Foreign tourists, backpackers and Indian pilgrims make their way to this holy city every July to witness the legendary Jagannath Rath Yatra.

This vibrant festival is a deeply sensorial experience for most, with people from all across the world chanting, singing and dancing in unison, while waiting for the three chariots to emerge from the Jagannath Temple. This year, the Rath Yatra is being observed from 14th July till 23th July in Puri.

 

This festival is characterized by the manufacture of large-scale vehicles of wood with many wheels, they can pull by dragging the rope while roaming the streets, and these vehicles decorated with decorations, decorations, inscriptions and statues.

 

Rath Yatra Of Puri: Where Mysteries & Legends ThriveRath Yatra Of Puri: Where Mysteries & Legends Thrive

The festival includes three vehicles (chariots), the highest of which is one of these vehicles, up to 60.45 feet, and contains 18 wheels. The other two chariots are slightly low in size. These large chariots are being pulled by the devotees in the main streets of the city. The priests also distribute prasads (sweets) to all the devotees in a large square irrespective of their social background.

 

The festival lasts about two days, with vehicles remaining for nine days. After completion, the streets are cleaned and life returns to normal. The festival has no religious connotation, but is to celebrate and see the colors and decorations shining on wooden vehicles. The festival attracts large numbers of foreign tourists and Indians every year in June or July

Artists performing for the LordArtists performing for the Lord                 ArtistsArtists

 

A group of dancers performing the ancient Odisi DanceA group of dancers performing the ancient Odisi Dance

Rath Yatra & Its Importance For People

This festival is a celebration of the journey of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Vishnu, along with his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra, in three majestic chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Mandir, considered their aunt’s home, located three kilometres away. Millions of devotees join in the procession, accompanying the deities to the garden palace, where they holiday for a week. While on regular days, only Hindus are allowed into the Jagannath Temple, this festival allows pilgrims — men and women of all caste, creed and religion — to shower their devotion on the deities without any socio-religious barrier.

 

Millions of people gather tp celebrate this occassionMillions of people gather tp celebrate this occassion

After a stay at the garden palace, the deities wind their way back to the temple in yet another significant journey known as the Bahudha Yatra or the Ulta Ratha.

Balbhadra, Shubhadra & Lord Jagannath (three siblings)Balbhadra, Shubhadra & Lord Jagannath (three siblings) 

Any kind of participation in the Rath Yatra is considered a pious act and people jostle within the crowd to be able to pull and push the chariots. Even the act of touching the chariots and ropes is considered auspicious. Fights have been known to erupt in the past, with some people even getting crushed under the chariots. It’s no wonder then that this frenzied procession gave rise to the English word “juggernaut” meaning a powerful and overwhelming force. Countless police teams, dog squads, bomb disposal teams, paramedical staff and volunteers are deployed to ensure that no mishaps take place.

 

Crowd during festivalCrowd during festival

Craftsmen Work Their Magic On The Chariots

The Raths or chariots, from which the festival derives its names, are intricate works of art. These 45-feet-high wooden chariots are created over two months by craftsmen. It’s amazing that the craftsmen solely rely on hand span for measurement and draw on the oral knowledge passed on by their ancestors. Each of the three chariots has a name: while Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called Nandighosha, Balaram’s rath is known as Taladhwaja and Subhadra’s as Devadalana. It’s usually her chariot that leads the way, followed by Taladhwaja, with Nandighosha making an appearance at the end.

 

A Divine Feast In The Largest Kitchen


the famous 56 dishthe famous 56 dish

According to a popular Hindu legend, Lord Vishnu divides his day between four places on earth. He bathes at Rameshwaram, meditates at Badrinath, dines at Puri and sleeps at Dwarka. It is no wonder then that the kitchen at Jagannath Temple, perhaps, one of the largest in the world, prides itself on creating a feast fit for Gods. According to a comprehensive documentary on the yatra, “The Legend of Jagannath”, which aired on National Geographic Channel recently, 1,000 pots are used just once by 600 cooks in the preparation of 56 dishes, or chhappan bhog, on wood-fired traditional stoves. These are then offered to the deity and later distributed as mahaprasad. During the Rath Yatra festival, food from this kitchen feeds nearly 10,000 people daily. What’s amazing to note, the documentary states, is that the same quantity of food is cooked everyday, but the number of devotees are not the same everyday. And yet, there is never any shortage or wastage. Interested isn’t it.

 

Main entrance of Jagannath TempleMain entrance of Jagannath Temple

 Heard Of These Mystery / Interesting Things About The Jagannath Temple?

#1 It is said that there is a delay in the Yatra proceedings every year, despite careful planning.

#2 Birds and planes do not fly above the temple.

#3 The dome of the main temple doesn’t cast a shadow at all, and even if it does, it is not visible to the human eye.

#4 As is the case with all coastal areas, wind blows from sea to land during the day, and from land to sea during the night. Not in Puri though.

#5 The flag atop the temple blows in a direction opposite to the breeze.

#6 Noticeable more in the evenings, upon entering from Singhadwara’s side, beyond the first step you cannot hear the sound of the ocean. But you can clearly hear the sound after making an exit. Legend states that a Goddess wished peace and serenity inside the temple, hence the quiet.

 

 

Now a days, becuase of the ISKCON - Hare Krishna Movement, this chariot festival is also being celebrated in different countries outside of India.

 

USAUSA         RussiaRussia      South AfricaSouth Africa

Wonderful Chariot Festival in LondonWonderful Chariot Festival in London                  Wonderful Chariot Festival in LondonWonderful Chariot Festival in London

img_3547.jpg    img_3567.jpg    img_3711.jpg    img_3740.jpg

 

 

ChicagoChicago    San FranciscoSan Francisco     EuropeEuropeGermanyGermany   TorontoToronto     New YorkNew York MelbourneMelbourne     ParisParis    USAUSA

 Do comment here friends, what do you feel about this chariot festival

Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, India
40 comments
Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

Really amazing post @NandKK bhai I saw lots of video and hears about this many time but till now not got opportunity to join this hope one day will join them thank you

| Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless





Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

Hello @Atsukot

 

thank you for realeasing my post from spam filter. Your points noted, won't happen again.

Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

Thank you @AmbrishVarshney

 

you must visit puri once during this festival. the feeling is really amazing.

Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

Yes I will do @NandKK

| Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless





Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

@Gio51x @Julien44 @OSAMA @BishowvijayaP @RashmiM @HelloSamsonR @Shrut19 @ValeriaA_ @THOKCHOM @Badruddeen

 

Hello Friends,

 

What do you feel about this chariot festival.

Level 6

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

HAPPY JAGNATH RATHAYATRA 2018 @NandKK

Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

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Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

Great post bro. Thanks for sharing with us @NandKK

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Level 10

Re: Happy Jagannath Rath Yatra 2018

@NandKK this festival is indeed very interesting. I love how colorful the clothings and decorations are. It's a nice celebration that has a deep meaning for many many people.

Thanks a lot for sharing it with us 🙂

 

 

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