History in Jagannath Rath Yatra

There is only one festival among Hindu festivals and that is Jagannath Rath Yatra, which occurs every year in Puri, Odisha. It revolves around Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, along with his siblings, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. Such a festival as the Chariot Festival has deep cultural and spiritual roots in Hindu tradition; millions of devotees from all parts of the world come and join this festival.

This history of Jagannath Rath Yatra goes back over a thousand years and has divine lore and sacred rituals attached to it. Most historians reckon it dates back to the days of King Indradyumna, a mythological figure credited with constructing the original temple for Lord Jagannath. 

What is Jagannath Rath Yatra? Another version says that Lord Jagannath came out in Puri as an anthropomorphic wood figure, 'the king having sought the divine for himself'. Over the centuries, the festival has developed to commemorate the journey of Lord Jagannath from his temple to a greater distance, the Gundicha Temple, a few miles away.

Jagannath Rath Yatra is a journey that is conceptualized as an annual fest of Lord Jagannath to his maternal aunt's abode at the Gundicha Temple. The procession is made up of three gigantic wooden chariots of the respective deities. Nandighosa is the chariot of Lord Jagannath-the tallest among the three and marks him uniquely with its characteristic red and yellow canopy, Taladhwaja, which is coloured green and red, is of Lord Balabhadra, and Darpadalana, black and red, for Goddess Subhadra.

On the yatra day, these chariots are drawn by thousands of devotees and the distance between Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple is almost three kilometres. This act of pulling the chariots itself is an act closer to salvation for the devotees. Furthermore, the yatra signifies the very need for Lord Jagannath to mingle with the people as everybody belonging to all castes and classes attends this event.

Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra has deep spiritual implications. Lord Jagannath is considered the Lord of the Universe, and his journey symbolizes the cycle of life and death. The Gundicha Temple journey and the journey back to the Jagannath Temple represent the soul's sojourn towards liberation. The festival also symbolises unity, as it brings together people belonging to various backgrounds.

In all those forms, literature, and music has inspired devotion and cultural expression. This festival remains a great emblem of devotion, community, and divine love in the Hindu tradition. Explore this with Puri Tour Packages by including it in your Odisha Tour Packages.