Rath yatra is the most beautiful & famous festival in odisha. Which is also make an unique identification all over the world. In other words we can say rath yatra not only a famous festival in odisha, but also is a world famous festival..
Origin Of Rath Yatra
A few mythical stories related with Rath Yatra's origins exist that reflect the socio-religious thinking and beliefs of the people of the region. Some of the chief ones are:
To kill Lord Krishna and Balram, Kansa, their maternal uncle, invited them to Mathura. He sent Akrur with a chariot to Gokul. As asked, Lord Krishna, along with Balram, sat on the chariot and left for Mathura. The devotees celebrate this day of departure as Rath Yatra.
Euphoric devotees celebrated the day when Lord Krishna, aftr defeating the evil Kansa, gave them darshan in Mathura in a chariot with his brother, Balaram.
Devotees in Dwarika celebrated the day when Lord Krishna, accompanied by Balaram, took Subhadra -- his sister, for a ride on a chariot to show the city's splendor.
Once Lord Krishna's queens requested mother Rohini to narrate the many interesting amorous episodes (ras lilas) of Lord Krishna with the Gopis. Rohini--considering it improper of Subhadra to hear such episodes (Leela)--sent her away. Still, the Vrajkatha soon absorbed Subhadra along with Krishna and Balram, who by now had appeared on the scene. While they were completely engrossed with the stories arrived Narad. On finding the siblings standing together motionless, he prayed, "May the three of you grant darshan in this manner forever." The boon was granted. And the three forever reside in the Puri Temple of the Lord Jagannath.
There is an exciting story of Lord Krishna becoming the Sarathi - driver of Arjuna's chariot, during the 18-day battle of the Mahabharata.
Finally, a story which has been passed on from mouth to mouth, tells what happened after the cremation of Lord Krishna's mortal body.
When Shri Krishna was being cremated in Dwarika, Balaram, much saddened with the development, rushed out to drown himself into ocean with Krishna's partially cremated body. He was followed by Subhadra. At the same time, on the eastern shore of India, King Indradyumna of Jagannath Puri dreamt that the Lord's body would float up to the Puri's shores. He should build a massive statue in the city and sanctify the wooden statues of Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra.
The bones (asthi) of Lord Krishna's body should be put in the hollow in the statue's back. The dream came true. The king found the splinters of bone (asthi) and took them. But the question was who would carve the statues. It is believed that the Gods' architect, Vishwakarma, arrived as an old carpenter. He made it clear that while carving the statues nobody should disturb him, and in case anybody did, he would vanish leaving the work unfinished.
Some months passed. The impatient Indradyumna opened the door of Vishwakarma's room. Vishwakarma disappeared immediately as he had warned before. Despite the unfinished statues, the king sanctified them; placing Lord Krishna's holy cinders in the hollow of the statue and installed them in the temple.
A majestic procession is carried out with the statues of Lord Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra, every year, in three gigantic chariots. The huge chariots are pulled by devotees from Janakpur to the temple in Jagannath Puri. The statues are changed every 12 years--the new ones being incomplete also.
The Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the four most sacred temples in the four directions of the India--the other three being: Rameshwar in South, Dwarka in West and Badrinath in the Himalayas. Maybe, the temple in Jagannath Puri is the world's only temple with the statues of three deities who are siblings -- Lord Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra.
On the day of the initiation of this Yatra, all the people at Puri get up early in the morning and take bath. After this purification bath, they offer prayers to the Lord at their homes and then head towards the Jagannath Temple. The massive chariots on which the Lord has to be taken out in a procession are lined up in front of the temple only.
It is after the devotees have reached the temple, that the contemporary king of the region brings the deities from the temple and installs them on their respective chariots. This ceremony is observed with a great pomp and show, and is followed by massive prayers offered to the Lord by His devotees.
It is after this that the off springs of the king arrive on gaily-caparisoned elephants to the temple. They, then sweep all the platforms of the Lord's chariot with a gold-handled broom. Thereafter, scented water is sprinkled on the chariot by them and mopping is done.
This ritual associated with this Yatra demonstrates that every human being is equal to God irrespective of his caste, color or creed. But, this bringing out of the idols of the Lord from the temple can only be done by either the King of Puri or the King of Nepal for they only belong to the Chandravanshi dynasty of Lord Krishna.
A very interesting but strange ritual associated with this chariot festival is that the devotees chuck various possible obscenities and sacrilegious abuses at the God. The reason for this as per a local saying is an incestuous relationship between Jagannath and his sister Subhadra.
This obviously provoked abuses during their public ventures. Metaphorically speaking, this entire yatra comes as a symbolic humanization of God. Thus, it is an attempt to bring the Lord down from his glorious pedestal to a human level.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL RULES:-
This colourful festival which draws millions of devotees from various parts of the country as well as from abroad to Puri, is held in June-July every year. Lord Jagannath, Lord of the Universe, comes out of His sanctum sanctorum to give Darshan to all Devotees belonging to all sects and communities.lt is said that those who take part in the Car Festival 2018 earn their passage to the Heaven.
'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. During this period, no public worship is performed. After 15 days of isolation, the Gods come out of the temple in a colourful procession to board their respective Chariots and thereafter begins the journey known as Ratha Jatra.
Reference to Car Festival in Jagannatha Puri is available in various scriptures like those of Buddhists. Jains and Hindus. However, the present concept of Lord Jagannath is most popular. According to the prevailing concept, Lord Jagannath was originally worshipped by Savaras—a Scheduled Tribe of Orissa.Car Festival symbolizes the Lord's desire to come out of the temple for a brief period to give Darshan to the 'Patitas', (i. e., the lowest of the low) and redeem them. The chariots of Lord Jagannath and His brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are dragged by thousands of devotees in three gorgeously decorated chariots from the main gate of the temple to Gundicha Mandir near about 3 Kms. away. At Gundicha Mandirthe Lord along with His entourage remains for 7 days.
When the chariots move on the main thoroughfare of Puri known as Bada Danda {Grand Road) through a vast concourse of humanity that usually throng to have His Darshan, the atmosphere is charged with sanctity. It is delightful to witness the foreigners in saffron robes dancing and reciting musical compositions in honour of Lord Jagannath and Krishna, to the accompaniment of cymbals and mridangas.
The Gods perform their Return Journey on the 9th day and this is known as Bahuda yatra.
The deities, after a seven-day stay at 'Gundicha Mandir' commence their Return Journey, or the Bahuda Jatra. on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Asadlia. The Return Journey of the chariots takes place in the same order as in the Ratha Jatra. Balabhadra's chariot moves first, followed by those of Subhadra and Jagannath. On His way back, Jagannath slops for a while at Ardhasani temple popularly called Mausi Maa Temple or the Temple of Aunt. He accepts his favourite rice-cake, Poda Pitha from the Aunt.
The three chariots, pulled by thousands of devotees, reach back the Singhadwara in the late afternoon of the Bahuda day. On the next day the Bada Ekadasi, the three deities are attired in costumes of glittering gold ornaments and are worshipped by lakhs of devotees, This form of the deities Is known as the 'Suna Vesha'. On the Dwadasi day, the three deities go back to their original place of the temple, the 'Ratna Slnghasana', in the Pahandi style. Their arrival into the sanctum sanctorum marks the end of the Ratha Jatra, the grand festival of chariots
Chariots:-
.The main feature of the Puri Rath Yatra festival, which happens in July every year in Odisha, is the towering temple-shaped chariots that carry the three deities from the Jagannath Temple. The chariots are an architectural marvel.
What's really fascinating is the detailed process by which the chariots are newly made every single year. It's a labor of love for around 200 carpenters, helpers, blacksmiths, tailors, and painters who work tirelessly according to a strict 58-day deadline. The craftsmen don't follow any written instructions. Instead, all the knowledge is handed down from generation to generation. Only one family of carpenters has hereditary rights to the construction of the chariots.
The process takes places in various stages, each coinciding with an auspicious festival on the Hindu calendar. Some of the main stages are as follows.
Delivery and Cutting of the Wood
The wooden logs are supplied free of cost by the Odisha state government. They're delivered to the...MORE
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Chariot Details and Specifications
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Each of the three chariots in the Puri Rath Yatra festival carries one of the deities from the Jagannath Temple. Each chariot is attached to four horses, and has a charioteer. Their details are as follows:
Lord Jagannath
Chariot Name: Nandighosa
Chariot Height: 45 feet, six inches.
Number and Height of Wheels: 16 wheels measuring six feet in diameter.
Chariot Colors: Yellow and red. (Lord Jagannath is associated with Lord Krishna, also known as Pitambara, "the one draped in golden yellow robes").
Horse Color: White.
Charioteer: Daruka.
Lord Balabhadra
Chariot Name: Taladhwaja -- meaning "one with the palm tree on its flag".
Chariot Height: 45 feet.
Number and Height of Wheels: 14 wheels measuring six feet six inches in diameter.
Chariot Colors: Green and red.
Horse Color: Black.
Charioteer: Matali.
Devi Subhadra
Chariot Name: Debadalana -- meaning literally, "trampler of pride".
Chariot Height: 44 feet, six inches.
Number and Height of Wheels: 12 wheels, measuring six feet eight inches.
The Description of Rath yatra:-
The Rath itself is a curious thing. It is the specimen of old chariot-making. It is generally made of wood. Its turrets are like those of a church. It has a covering of gold and silver. It has all sorts of paintings and wooden figures all about it. It is 13.7 meters high and 10.7 meters square. It has sixteen wheels. Each wheel is 2.13 meters in diameter. The Rath is shown as being drawn by horses. But it is actually drawn by men with the help of ropes tied to it.
Period of Celebration
The Rath Yatra festival lasts for seven days. It begins from the day when the Lord leaves his temple. It continues to the day of his return. This period passes in the worship of the god in Hari-Sankirtan. Brahmans and beggars are fed. Alms are given.
Market Scene:-
All the Hindus look forward to the day fixed for drawing of the Car. Thousands of people gather on either side of the road along which the cart passes. All the spectators try to get opportunity of having a darshan of the god. They struggle hard to get near the car (Rath) and pull it.
The father take their children’s to market to buy toys. The middle aged men buy articles for domestic use. Shop-keepers, small dealers and hawkers have a very good time. They earn a lot of money on this occasions. Flowers plants and grafts of fruit trees have a large sale of this festivals.
Celebration
The celebration of the Rath Yatra at Puri are the grandest in India. Thousands of pilgrims assemble on this sacred place. They come from different parts of the country. The gathering at Puri on this occasions is the largest in India or perhaps in the world.
Conclusion
The cart of Lord Jagannath is worthy of the temple of Jagannath. It is one of the grandest specimen of ancient architecture. Special police arrangements are made to check accidents. The police officers remain on the spot to direct the movements of the police.
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рмЬрнЯ рмЬрмЧрми୍рмиାрме । рмЬрнЯ рмнାрм░рмд ।
Jay Jaganath......
