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RATH YATRA
Location : Puri, Orissa
Falls On : The Bright Fortnight of Ashadha (June - July)
Duration : 10 Days
Dates Back : 10th - 11th Century
THE CAR FESTIVAL
Orissa is a land of innumerable fairs and festivals
celebrated round the year but the most spectacular of them is the Rath
Yatra, hitherto known as the Car Festival to western world.
PREPARATION FOR THE RATH YATRA
| 'Baisakha Sukla Trutiya' 3rd day of bright fortnight of
Baisakha (May) |
Construction of Raths (Chariots ) begins. |
| 'Snana Poornima' the full moon day of Jyestha
(May-June). |
The Ceremonial Bath of the deities. (Bathing festival)
and retirement of the deities from public view for treatment and rest
for 14 days. This period is known as "ANASARA". |
| 'Ashadha Sukla Pratipada', the first day of the bright
fortnight of Ashadha (June-July) |
Reappearance of the deities ('Navajauvan Darshan') |
| 'Ashadha Sukla Dwitiya' the second day of
bright fortnight of Ashadha (June-July) |
Commencement of the Rath Yatra. |
Celebration
The three wooden deities of lord 'Jagannatha', 'Balbhadra' & 'Devi
Subhadra' with 'Sudarshan' are brought out of the main temple and taken to
Gundicha temple for a week's visit in three beautifully decorated
chariots.
Specialty
From the many specialties of the festival the most unique one is that,
this is the only occasion to see, even embrace the deities irrespective of
caste, colour and creed outside the Temple.
Legend
After performing all the necessary prostrations, he carried the lump of
wood to the temple and, following instructions from 'Brahma', called the
court carpenter 'Vishvakarma' to carve out the image. Vishvakarma agreed
to perform the task on condition that no one so much as set eyes on the
deity until it was completed. The king, however, unable to contain his
excitement, peeped through a crack in the door of the carpenter's workshop
during the night to see how the job was progressing. Vishvakarma spotted
him, downed tools just as he had promised and cast a spell on the deity so
that no one else could finish it.
SEQUENCE OF THE RATH YATRA
Divine Procession (Pahandi Bije): The deities are brought out of
the temple to the chariots by rhythmic movement called "Pahandi"
in a royal procession to the accompaniment of the beat of the 'cymbals'
and drums and chanting of prayers by devotees.
Sweeping of the Chariots (Chhera Pahanra): After the deities are
installed on their respective Chariots, the traditional King of
Puri sweeps the
Chariots with a golden broom, which is known as "Chhera Pahanra".
Pulling of Chariots (Rath Tana): The most exciting part of the
Rath Yatra is the pulling of Chariots by thousands of devotees to the
Gundicha Temple, which is about 3-kms away from the starting point of the
'yatra'. Devotees stay in the temple for a week.
Return Journey (Bahuda Yatra): On 'Ashadha Sukla Dasami', the 10th
day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha (June-July), return journey or
'Bahuda Yatra' of the deities commences in the same manner from Gundicha
temple to the main temple like Rath Yatra.
Suna Besha: Before going in their original abode, the deities are
dressed in Golden attire on the Chariots the next day.
NABAKALEBAR
When two months of Ashadha fall in one year, Rath Yatra is observed as
the festival of 'Nabakalebar' the old deities are buried within the temple
premises ('Koilibaikuntha') and are replaced by new deities, carved out of
Margosa trees for which there are set procedures. Double Ashadha occurs at
intervals of 8 to 19 years. As history records, Nabakalebar was held in
1996, 1977, 1969, 1950 and 1931 during this century.
THE CHARIOTS
DESCRIPTION OF CHARIOTS
Chariot Of
Jagannatha: NANDIGHOSHA / GARUDADHWAJA / KAPIDHWAJA
|
| No. Of Wheels |
16 |
| No. Of Wooden Pieces Used |
832 |
| Height |
13.5m |
| Length & Breadth |
10.52m X 10.52m |
| Colour Of Cloth Wrappings |
Red & Yellow |
| Guardian Deity |
'Garuda' |
| Charioteer |
'Daruka' |
| The Flag |
'Trailokyamohini' |
| The Horses |
'Shankha', 'Balahaka', 'Shweta' and 'Haridashwa'. |
| The Rope |
'Sankhachuda' |
| Side Deities |
'Hanuman', 'Rama', 'Laxmana', 'Narayana', 'Krishna',
'Govardhan Dharana', 'Chintamani', 'Raghav' & 'Nrusimha'.
|
Chariot of
Balabhadra: TALADHWAJA
|
| No. Of Wheels |
14 |
| No. Of Wooden Pieces Used |
763 |
| Height |
13.2m |
| Length & Breadth |
10.06m X 10.06m |
| Colour Of Cloth Wrappings |
Red & Blue |
| Guardian Deity |
'Basudev' |
| Charioteer |
'Matali' |
| The Flag |
'Urnani' |
| The Horses |
'Tibra', 'Ghora', 'Dirghashran' and 'Swarnanva'. |
| The Rope |
'Basuki' |
| Side Deities |
'Gandantakari', 'Harihar', 'Traimbaka', 'Vasudeva',
'Aghora', 'Pralambai', 'Natamvara', 'Tripurasiva' & 'Mrutyunjaya'.
|
Chariot of
Subhadra: DARPADALANA / PADMADHWAJA
|
| No. Of Wheels |
12 |
| No. Of Wooden Pieces Used |
593 |
| Height |
12.9m |
| Length & Breadth |
9.6m X 9.6m |
| Colour Of Cloth Wrappings |
Red and black |
| Guardian Deity |
'Jayadurga' |
| Charioteer |
'Arjuna' |
| The Flag |
'Nandambika' |
| The Horses |
'Ruchika', 'Mochika', 'Jita' and 'Aparajita'. |
| The Rope |
'Swarnachuda' |
| Side Deities |
'Chamunda', 'Bhadrakali', 'Harachandika', 'Katyayani',
'Jayadurga', 'Varahi', 'Kali', 'Mangala' & 'Vimala'.
|
