Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Significance, Date and Schedule

Have you heard about the famous Rath Yatra of Puri? Well, to give you a brief, it is the Jagannath Rath Yatra which takes place every year in the months of June and July. It is an auspicious annual festival held and celebrated all over India. The Jagannath Rath Yatra festival is one of the most prominent Hindu festivals being observed according to the Hindu Calendar (in the Ashadha month, Shukla Paksha Dwitiya Tithi). 

The Jagannath Rath Yatra begins on June 20, 2023, in Puri, Odisha. Moreover, people often refer to this as the chariot celebration of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra. This year, 2023, will mark the presence of more than 1 million people gathered in the temple town from all across India and abroad to celebrate the festival with joy and elation. 

The Jagannath Rath Yatra can be of utmost significance for someone seeking moral merit and ultimate release. The rope pulling is especially auspicious. Moreover, popular belief states that whoever touches the rope connected to the chariots of the deities will experience maximum gain in life. 

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Schedule and Important Dates

• Jagannath Rath Yatra begins (June 2o, 2023, Tuesday): with the deities ready to start their journey towards the Gundicha temple.
• Hera Panchami (June 24 2023, Saturday): The first five days during which deities reside in the Gundicha temple.
• Sandhya Darshan or Navami Darshan, or Adap Mandap Darshan (June 27 2023, Tuesday): An auspicious occasion during which the devotees can see and pray to all the deities. 
• Bahuda Yatra (June 28 2023, Wednesday): The period during which the deities return back to their home.
• Sunabesa (June 29 2023, Thursday): The period during which all three deities reside back in the Jagannath temple.
• Aadhar Pana (June 30 2023, Friday): The ritual makes an offering of a special drink to the holy chariots.
• Niladri Bije (July 1 2023, Saturday): a special ritual performed by the end of the Jagannath Yatra.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Mythology Associated 

The mythology associated with Jagannath Rath Yatra holds great importance and significance. The story begins with King Indradyumna. The Rath Yatra takes place as Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings, Balbhadra and Subhadra, wanted to visit the temple of the devotional queen Gundicha. The deities tend to visit her as a vote of thanks for the efforts and devotion she showed towards them. The deities tend to stay at the Gundicha temple for some time. However, there is also a twist in this story. Goddess Lakshmi, the spouse of Lord Jagannath, got angry with him as he did not take her along with him. In her rage, she curses Lord Jagannath to be drenched in the rain. This has become true as during most Yatras, Lord Jagannath gets drenched in the rain.

The Yatra takes place from the home of Lord Jagannath, which is the Puri temple, to the Gundicha temple, where he, along with his siblings, stays for a while. After that, while returning to his home, Lord Jagannath and his siblings tend to visit the Mosi Mausa temple. They then further come back to their home. But upon reaching the doors of their home, Goddess Lakshmi does not let them enter in the temple. This is because she is angry at Lord Jagannath for not taking her. Later Lord Jagannath tends to please Goddess Lakshmi by offering her Rasgullas. 

Also Read: Famous East India Temples You Must Visit

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: History and Significance 

The Rath Yatra significance lies in the age-old traditions which are followed even today. According to year-old scriptures, the tradition of Jagannath Rath Yatra is not a new one. This festival has been relevant for generations now. Moreover, the story behind this is that one day the younger sister of Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra expressed her keen desire to go around the city. Thus, The Rath Yatra celebrates the annual journey of  

Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra (his elder brother) and Goddess Subhadra (his younger sister). The journey begins from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple, 2.5km away. Moreover, devotees pull three grand heavily-built wooden chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra for a distance of 3 kilometres twice during the nine-day festival of the Trinity at Puri.

Moreover, the devotees clean the chariot before the holy stay of Lord Jagannath. The names of the three chariots are- Nandighosha with 16 wheels (Lord Jagannath), Taladhwaja with 14 wheels (Lord Balabhadra) and Darpadalän with 12 wheels (Goddess Subhadra). 

Thereafter, the devotees carry out a grand procession with devotional songs and bhajans sung and played with joy and gaiety. After resting for eight days, Lord Jagannath returns to his main abode, called the ‘Bahuda Yatra’.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Rituals

The Puri Rath Yatra, or Puri Car Yatra, is one of the most famous and widely celebrated festivals in Jagannath Puri. People not just from across the country but the world come here to feel the essence of this magnificent festival. Mentioned below are the ritual practices of Puri Rath Yatra. These are as follows: 

• The rituals that are followed during Jagannath Rath yatra do not only take place during the festival but from the time that the preparations begin for the festivities.
• The first thing is the construction of the Chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. The Chariot is constructed from wood from special trees. Moreover, there are a lot of things that are taken into consideration while choosing the wood for the Chariot. It sure is a time-consuming process. 
• On the day of the yatra, the idols of the deities are taken out from the temple shrine and are seated n their individual chariots. Further, the Yatra proceeds.
• The chariots are huge and weigh tons. The Chatiots are tied with a rope which is pulled by devotees in order to make the chariot move. The touching of the rope is considered sacred, and it is believed that individuals who are able to touch the rope are blessed with good luck and fortune by Lord Jagannath himself. 
• The fourth day of the festival marks the return of the Deities to their home. It is called Bahuda Yatra.
• After coming back from the Yatra, the Deities are given time to rest and the doors of the temple remain shut for some days. 

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Do’s and Don’ts 

Let us have a look at the Do’s and Don’ts of this year’s Jagannath Yatra. These are as follows: 

Do’s

• Get up early on the day of the festival. 
• If you are planning to take part in the celebration in Puri, try to enter the temple premises by 06:00 AM. 
• Take a bath and wear clean clothes.
• If you are worshipping Jagannath in your house, then make sure to cook food without garlic and onion. 
• Try to eat satvik food for the day.

Don’ts

• Avoid the consumption of alcohol.
• Try to avoid Tamsik food items for the day, like onion, garlic, and other items.
• Avoid consuming non-vegetarian food items for the day.
• If you are planning to participate in the celebration of the festival in Puri, remember not to wear leather items. 

Also Read: Puri: Abode Of Lord Jagannatha And His Siblings

Conclusion

There you have it, folks! This was everything you needed to know about the Jagannath Puri festival. If you are planning to visit Puri during the time of the festival in order to enjoy the celebration, then there are some things that you should remember. Firstly, the area will be completely packed with people. Thus, it is advised not to go alone. Instead, go as a part of a group. Secondly, The celebration will be all day long; thus, try to carry a water bottle for yourself in order to keep yourself hydrated. Lastly, do not forget to enjoy the vibe and atmosphere of the festival. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Mind Blowing Revelations About Amarnath Temple

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