Jagannath Temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath at Puri is One of the Four Holiest Shrines of India. Though it celebrates as large a number as that of 24 Festivals in an year the Most Important One that it celebrates is the Chariot Festival or ‘Rath Yatra’ or Car Festival. It is celebrated in the Fourth Month of Hindu Calendar called ‘Ashadha’ which generally falls in the month of June-July every year.
Puri
is located approximately 65 km from Bhubaneshwar, the Capital City of Orissa
State, India.
Commencement
Before
the commencement of the Festival Huge Wooden Statues of all the Three Deities
are carved out with Big Floral Crowns or ‘Tahias’ placed
upon them. The Chariot Festival starts when Three Deities of
Jagannath Temple, namely Lord Jagannath,
his Elder Brother Lord Balbhadra and Sister
Goddess Subhadra are taken out of Temple in Three Separate
Chariots in a Spectacular Procession called ‘Pahandi’ to another Temple of Town called Gundicha
Temple. Thousands of devotees pull these Three Chariots with the accompaniment of beat of cymbals, drums, etc, with Chanting the Names of Deities.
Chariot of Lord Jagannath is called ‘Nandighosh’, that of Balbhadra and
Subhadra are called ‘Taladhwaja’ and
‘Padmadhwaja’ respectively.
The
45 Feet High ‘Nandighosh’ has 16 wheels decorated with red and yellow fabric on
its roof. ‘Taladhwaja’ is 44 Feet High
with 14 wheels and a roof in red and green adorned with a fruit on top. The 43 Feet Tall ‘Padmadhvaja’ has 12 wheels
with a roof in red and black. Four highly decorated wooden horses precede each of the chariots.
Orderly
Move
Chariot
of Balabhadra moves first followed by those of Subhadra and Jagannath. Chariots move slowly until they reach
Gundicha Temple which is located 3 km from Jagannath Temple and the Three Deities take rest for a night
at entrance of Temple in their
chariots. They enter Temple on
the next day in a spectacular procession and stay there for Seven
Days.
Return
Journey
After
their Seven Days stay there Deities commence their Return Journey called ‘Bahuda
Yatra’ in the same order as in Car
Festival. On his way back Lord Jagannath stops at ‘Ardhasani ‘ Temple or Temple of Aunt. Lord accepts
rice cake from his Aunt . The
Three Chariots pulled by thousands of devotees reach back the Lion Gate or ‘ Simhadwara’, the Main Gate
of Temple, in late afternoon and deities
remain seated on their chariots.
Grand
Finale
On
the next day known as ‘Bada Ekadasi’ or on the Eleventh Day of Waxing Phase of Moon, the Three Deities
dress up in costumes of glittering gold
are worshipped by devotees. On the 12th Day of Hindu Lunar
Calendar or on ‘ Dwadasi’ Day the
Three Deities are taken back to their original places of Jewelled
Platform or ‘Ratna Simhasanas’ in
Procession or’ in ‘Pahandi’ Style. The
Festival of Chariots comes to a grand
finale when the Deities occupy their Holy Seats in Sanctum Sanctorum.
Copyright © 2017 by Davis Akkara
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