Rath Yatra 2010
Orissa is a land of plenty of fairs and festivals celebrated throughout the year but the most extravagant of them is the Jagannath Rath Yatra. This is perhaps the biggest festival on earth and is celebrated every year with great fervor and enthusiasm at the Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa. The auspicious day falls on the second day of the Shukla Paksha, Ashadh month as per traditional Oriya Calendar. In 2010, the date of
Puri Rath Yatra is 13th July. The festival is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra and by a variety of other names.
At the world famous Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa, Lord Krishna is worshipped as ‘Jagannath’ – ‘master of the universe.’ Balabhadra is the elder brother of Lord Krishna and Subhadra is his younger sister.
The lavish Rath Yatra sees Lord Jagannath, along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, emerge out from the Ratna Sinhasan in the Jagannath temple. Thousands of devotees pull the massive chariots through Bada Danda (the grand road). The three of them travel to their aunt's Gundicha Ghar (His place of birth) a short distance away, where they stay for nine days before making the return journy.
The daities are transported on towering chariots, which have been made to resemble temples, giving the festival its name of
Rath Yatra -- the Chariot Festival. Around one million pilgrims flock to this colorful event.
During the return journey, the chariot of Jagannath stops at the Ardhasani Temple (Mausa Ma temple). Here, Lord accepts his favorite rice cake known as Poda Pitha from his aunt who is the presiding deity of the temple.
The deities reach the Puri Jagannath Temple in the evening and wait outside for the day.
On the next day, the deities are attired in new costumes and this new form of the idols is known as ‘Suna Vesa.’
The following day, the deities move into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and the
Rath Yatra
2010 festival comes to an end. |
