Some Interesting Facts About Puri Rathyatra

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is the biggest chariot festival for all Hindus and Indians. There are so many things that make it unique and lovely. Let’s see some interesting facts about this grand procession.Every year three separate chariots are made out of Neem tree for Lord Jagannath (ruler of the world), his elder brother Balbhadra (Balaram) and his sister Subhadra. No other wood can be used to make these grand chariots. It is one of the most interesting facts about Puri Jagannath chariot. The highest chariot is made for Lord Jagannath with a height of 44 feet. His chariot is called Garudadhwaja or Kapiladhwaja. It has a total of 16 wheels and is decorated primarily in red and yellow colour. The height of Balaram’s chariot (Known as Taladhwaja or Langaladhwaja) is 43 feet, and it has 14 wheels. It is primarily decorated in red and bluish-green colour. Subhadra’s chariot, known as Darpadalana or Padmadhwaja, is 42 feet tall and has 12 wheels. It is decorated primarily in red and black.

​

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is an old-age ritual since it has been mentioned in ancient scriptures like Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana and Kapila Samhita. Devotees call this ritual of bringing the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra out of the temple and installing them in their respective chariots as ‘Pahandi‘. Before the Rath Yatra starts, the idols are bathed with 109 buckets of water which is known as ‘Snana Purnima‘.
‘Chera Pahara‘ is a ritual involved in this procession in which the King cleans the road with a golden-handled broom and water scented with sandalwood paste. Tens of thousands of devotees from all over the world participate in this huge Rath Yatra which begins from the iconic puri temple.
A temple, called Gundicha temple, was built in the memory of the famous Queen of King Indradyumna, who built the iconic Puri Temple. The famous Rath Yatra starts from the Jagannath temple in Puri and ends at Gundicha temple.Goddess Laxmi, the wife of Lord Jagannath, comes to visit her husband in Gundicha temple on the 4th day of the procession.

​

All the deities start their return journey on the 10th day of Ashada Shukla Paksha. This ritual is called ‘Bahuda‘ or ‘Dakshinabimukhi‘. Before returning to their places, they halt at Goddess Ardhashini’s temple to pay obeisance to her. There are two more concluding rituals called Suna Besha, and Adhara Pana. Suna Besha is conducted on the 10th day when the Gods are decorated with gold ornaments. Adhara Pana is performed on the 11th and final day of the yatra when sweets are offered to the gods.

​