Published On : May 12, 2022  |  Author : Astrologer Umesh
Jagannath Rath Yatra

Jagannath Rath Yatra Importance

About Jagannath Rath Yatra: Rath Yatra or chariot festival is a religiously auspicious event organized and celebrated by Hindu devotees of Lord Jagannath.

Therefore, Jagannath Rath Yatra is a holy festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath and has been a very famous festival in the Indian state of Odisha, where the festival is held at Shri Khetra Puri Dham.

Devotees of Lord Jagannath, on this day, offer prayer and worship out of sheer devotions and venerations for the divine being. The main feature of the festival is that it is touted to be the oldest one (Rath Yatra) and has been richly mentioned in religious texts of Padma Purana, Brahma Purana, Skanda Purana and Kapila Samhita.

Experience peace and prosperity in all walks of your life with the service solution of Shani Puja offered by experienced pandits and priests in our team.

Importance Of Jagannath Rath Yatra

The importance of Jagannath Rath Yatra lies in the fact that the festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath who is believed to be the Divinity of the Universe’s journey to the dwelling place of his aunt. Since the festival has its religious association with Lord Jagannath, the celebration of it is done with boundless enthusiasm by the devotees and can be witnessed to be a fantastic religious event commemorating the lord in which devotees pay their visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple situated close to Saradha Bali in Puri.

The festival, Chariots of Shri Jagannath is observed yearly at Puri, famously known as the temple town of Odisha. The festival falls on Dwitiya of Shukla Paksha of Ashadha month.

Another importance of the Rath Yatra is associated with the concept of achieving divine salvation, considering the festival symbolically represents a body, and the journey (yatra) is the path that one undertakes in every birth. Therefore, the festival represents a body’s journey from its birth to its destination called salvation. 

Special Things Of Jagannath Rath Yatra

During Jagannath Rath Yatra, the chariots of the lord are decked colourfully and ornate lavishly in divine fashion. The chariots are drawn by the enthusiastic devotees of the lord on the BadaDanda. The attraction of the Jagannath Rath Yatra festival also lies in the fact that it commands the religious belief of neutralising the fear of deaths and calamities. Moreover, the Jagannath Rath is equipped with 16 wheels dressed in red and yellow covers. Daruka is known as the charioteer of this Jagannath Rath while its rope is called Sankhachuda.

Moreover, Sankha, Balahaka, SwetaandHaridaswa are the names of horses attached to Jagannath Rath. The rath yatra signs its early preparation of making new chariots every year, starting from Akshaya Tritiya. The making of other accoutrements of Jagannath Rath like charioteers, temple Kalasas, horses, and Parsha gods is initiated during the ritual of the new deity making called Navakalebara. The procession of Jagannath Rath Yatra starts from the Jagannath temple to the rathas, a ritual called Pahandi.

Conclusion

Jagannath Rath Yatra is a famous and religiously auspicious festival celebrated at Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha during Shukla Paksha of Ashadha month. The festival is celebrated by a multitude of ardent and enthusiastic devotees. One of the attributes of the festival is that it represents a divine message involving the journey of a body until it attains salvation or Moksha.

Embrace Harmony: Book Navgrah Puja for Balanced Energies. Bring Serenity to Your Life. Reserve Now!

Must Read:
Shri Krishna Janmashtami and Nirjala Ekadashi