Ratha Yatra (Odia: गाज आर अरे) (Ratha Festival) is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Sri Shetpuri Dham in Odisha, India. It is one of the oldest chariots with descriptions in the Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, and Kapila Samiti. Rath Yatra, also known as Yatra, is the festival of Lord Jagannath, who is considered a cosmic pilgrimage to his aunt’s residence.
The festival commemorates Jagannath’s annual journey from Mausi Ma Temple (his mother’s house) to Gundicha Temple in Sarada Bali, Puri.
This annual festival is held on Asha Shukla Pak Dwitiya (the second day of the bright dark day of the month of Asha). Ratha Yatra, or Chariot Festival: Every year the Rath of Sri Jagannath (The third month of the Odiya calendar) is celebrated on the second (Second) day of the Shukla Pakya (Wax cycle of the moon in the temple city of Odisha.) Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Puri’s main temple, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, along with the celestial wheel – the Sudarshan Chakra (Gun Ak Yo) are ceremonially removed from their chariots from the temple. Huge, colorfully decorated chariots are drawn by throngs of devotees on Bada Danda, the great road leading to Gundicha Temple (Queen of Gundicha-King Indradyumna) two kilometers to the north. After approaching Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandigosa
Every year, new versions of the three chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are made using wood from specific trees such as Fasi, Dhasa, etc. The former princely states, where they were formerly used as furniture Traditionally, these giants are floated as rafts in rivers They are assembled near Puri and operated there at Bada Danda, Grand Avenue, three chariots are displayed in a unique pattern that is specific and followed through generations. In front of the temple, near its eastern entrance, also called Sinhadwar or Lion Gate, is a huge road lined with chariots.
On the sides of the chariot are nine Parsava deities with wood carvings of various deities surrounding each chariot. Each chariot has four horses and a charioteer
The deities are adorned in golden ornaments and worshiped in their chariots as they return to the main temple from the Gundicha temple. The event is Suna Besha According to tradition, King Kapilendra Dev inaugurated the festival in 1460 when he presented gold to Jagannath after winning a battle. The gold ornaments covering the deities weigh about 208 kg The event was observed by about 900,000 devotees in 2014 and took place on July 9.
Hera Panchami
At the Grand Jagannath Temple in Puri, a ritual called Hera Panchami is performed during the chariot journey It is recognized as a Lakshmi ritual Hera Pakhmi is celebrated on the fifth day of the chariot journey or on the fifth day of the bright Durgam day of Asha Lord Jagannath accompanied his sister Maa Subhadra, brother Sri Balabhadra and divine weapon Sri Sudarshan on a holy journey leaving his bride Mahalakshmi behind. Devi expresses her displeasure with Lord. He rode in a palanquin in the form of Subarana Mahalakshmi and went to the Adapa mandap of the Gundicha temple threatening to bring her back to the temple soon. Lord gives him whatever he wants by giving him Agia Mala to make him happy The attendants close the main door of Gundicha after seeing the goddess in anger Again, Mahalakshmi uses the Nakachana gate to enter the main temple The goddess orders one of her servants to destroy a piece of Nandigosa’s chariot as part of an unusual ritual. Then he retreated behind a copper tree in front of the Gundicha temple After some time, he secretly descended Hera Gohri Lane, a special path, to his home temple Many Lord Jagannath worshipers enjoy special rituals
The Hera Panchami ritual is an important function of the temple mentioned in the Skanda Purana According to the history of the temple, Maharaja Kapilendra Deva oversaw the initiation of this “Utkal”. Before his reign, the festival of Hera Panchami was symbolically celebrated through the chanting of mantras. According to Madala Panji, King Kapilendra Deva changed the custom by introducing a gold Mahalakshmi idol to make the festival more authentic.