The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival, which is celebrated every year in the temple town of Puri in Orissa. It is a festival of chariot, which is celebrated in the town with huge pomp and show. A grand ceremonial procession of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Shubhdra are taken out of the Jagannath Temple and are taken to Shri Gurndicha Temple in the month of Asadha of the Hindu calendar.
About Jagannath Temple and Lord Jagannath
Lord Jagannath is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu according to Hindu Mythology and he is worshiped as a part of arpeggio together with his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra. He is Lord Krishna, who is worshiped by people by the name of Jagannath, which means Lord of the Universe. The Temple of Lord Jagannath is situated in the town of Puri in Orissa, which is considered as one of the Char Dhams of India. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Shubhdra are carved in wood, which distinguishes it from other idols of Gods and Goddesses. This is one of the most sacred places of India for Hindu pilgrims and people from all over the nation visits Puri for the Jagannath temple once in their life time.
Significance and History of the Puri Rath Yatra Festival
The Puri Rath Yatra Festival is famous all over the Globe and is visited by people from different parts of the OWrld. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Jagannath with his siblings visit their Aunt, Queen Gundicha once every year during the month of Asadha of the Hindu calendar. Owing to this belief, the rath yatra is arranged every year during this time, where the idols of the Lord Jagannath and his siblings are taken out of the temple and are taken to their Aunts home. This is a grand festival that is celebrated with zest and fervour and a horde of devotees from all over the Globe visits the town during this festival. People start making the chariots for the three deities on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and are beautifully decorated on the day when the rath yatra starts. It is a seven day festival and has been celebrated since time unknown.
This festival is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, etc. It is one of the most auspicious occasions for the Hindu community. The Rath Jatra of Puri is one of its kinds among all Yatras that are celebrated in different parts of India. It is the grandest festival of the supreme holiness, who appeared in the Kali Yuga to untie humanity and to alleviate them from their sufferings. In his original appearance as Nilamadhaba, he was worshipped in a sacred banyan tree and the branches of the tree had spread for several miles and any one entering this area was directly un-regimented and was alleviated of the cycle of the birth and re-birth..
A foretaste of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and have been considered as a special festival for every Hindu since the ancient times. The sacredness of the festival is such that even a contact of the chariot or even the ropes with which these chariots are pulled is considered enough to yield the results of a number of virtuous deeds or atonement for ages.
Celebration of Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival
Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha is celebrated with huge zest and enthusiasm. The deities of the main Jagannath temple along with the divine wheel Sudarshana are taken out from the temple grounds with an intricate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by millions of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha temple. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to the main temple. The Jagannath Rath Yatra festival is considered to be one of the most sacred festivals and falls in the month of June or July as per the English Calendar.
About Jagannath Temple and Lord Jagannath
Lord Jagannath is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu according to Hindu Mythology and he is worshiped as a part of arpeggio together with his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra. He is Lord Krishna, who is worshiped by people by the name of Jagannath, which means Lord of the Universe. The Temple of Lord Jagannath is situated in the town of Puri in Orissa, which is considered as one of the Char Dhams of India. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Shubhdra are carved in wood, which distinguishes it from other idols of Gods and Goddesses. This is one of the most sacred places of India for Hindu pilgrims and people from all over the nation visits Puri for the Jagannath temple once in their life time.
Significance and History of the Puri Rath Yatra Festival
The Puri Rath Yatra Festival is famous all over the Globe and is visited by people from different parts of the OWrld. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Jagannath with his siblings visit their Aunt, Queen Gundicha once every year during the month of Asadha of the Hindu calendar. Owing to this belief, the rath yatra is arranged every year during this time, where the idols of the Lord Jagannath and his siblings are taken out of the temple and are taken to their Aunts home. This is a grand festival that is celebrated with zest and fervour and a horde of devotees from all over the Globe visits the town during this festival. People start making the chariots for the three deities on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and are beautifully decorated on the day when the rath yatra starts. It is a seven day festival and has been celebrated since time unknown.
This festival is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, etc. It is one of the most auspicious occasions for the Hindu community. The Rath Jatra of Puri is one of its kinds among all Yatras that are celebrated in different parts of India. It is the grandest festival of the supreme holiness, who appeared in the Kali Yuga to untie humanity and to alleviate them from their sufferings. In his original appearance as Nilamadhaba, he was worshipped in a sacred banyan tree and the branches of the tree had spread for several miles and any one entering this area was directly un-regimented and was alleviated of the cycle of the birth and re-birth..
A foretaste of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and have been considered as a special festival for every Hindu since the ancient times. The sacredness of the festival is such that even a contact of the chariot or even the ropes with which these chariots are pulled is considered enough to yield the results of a number of virtuous deeds or atonement for ages.
Celebration of Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival
Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha is celebrated with huge zest and enthusiasm. The deities of the main Jagannath temple along with the divine wheel Sudarshana are taken out from the temple grounds with an intricate ritual procession to their respective chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by millions of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to the Gundicha temple. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to the main temple. The Jagannath Rath Yatra festival is considered to be one of the most sacred festivals and falls in the month of June or July as per the English Calendar.
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