Jagannath’s temple, located in Puri, Orissa, is famous all over the world. This temple is one of the pilgrimage centers of the Hindus. It is said that every Hindu should visit the four dhams before dying, this leads to salvation. Jagannath Puri has a temple of Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, which is very huge and many years old. Lakhs of devotees visit this temple every year for darshan. One of the main attractions of this place is the Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri. This Rath Yatra is no less than any festival. Apart from Puri, it is also taken out in many parts of the country and abroad .
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra Story
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Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2022 (Date and Time)
The Rath Yatra of Jagannath ji is taken out every year on the second day of the Shukta Paksha of the month of Ashadha (July). This year it will be taken out on 1st July 2022, the day Sunday. The festival of Rath Yatra is of 10 days, which ends on the eleventh day of Shukla Paksha. During this, lakhs of people reach Puri, and become a part of this great event. On this day Lord Krishna, his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra are taken in chariots to the Gundicha temple. The three chariots are decorated lavishly, preparations for which start months in advance.
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra Story –
There are many stories related to this Rath Yatra, due to which this festival is organized. Let me share some stories with you –
- Some people believe that Krishna’s sister Subhadra comes to her maternal home, and expresses her desire to visit the city with her brothers, then Krishna Balarama, accompanied by Subhadra, rides in a chariot and goes around the city, since then the Rath Yatra The festival started.
- Apart from this, it is said that Gundicha is the aunt of Goddess Krishna located in the temple, who invites all three to come to her house. Shri Krishna along with Balarama Subhadra goes to his aunt’s house to stay for 10 days.
- Shri Krishna’s maternal uncle Kansa calls him Mathura, for this Kansa sends a chariot along with a charioteer to Gokul. Krishna goes to Mathura with his brother and sister in a chariot, after which the Rath Yatra festival started.
- Some people believe that on this day, Shri Krishna, after killing Kansa, travels with Balarama to Mathura with Balarama to give darshan to his subjects.
- The queens of Krishna ask Mata Rohini to narrate her Rasleela. Mata Rohini feels that Subhadra should not listen to Krishna’s Rasleela with the Gopis, so she sends him for Rath Yatra with Krishna, Balarama. Then Naradji appears there, seeing all the three together, he becomes happy, and prays that the same darshan of these three continues every year. This prayer of theirs is heard and through the Rath Yatra, all the three are seen.
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra History –
It is said that after the death of Shri Krishna, when his body is brought to Dwarka, then Balarama is deeply saddened by the death of his brother. Taking Krishna’s body, he jumps into the sea, Subhadra also jumps after him. At the same time, King Indradwimuna of Puri, located in the east of India, dreams that the body of the Lord is floating in the sea, so he should build a huge statue of Krishna here and get the temple built. They are told by angels in their dreams that along with Krishna, a wooden statue of Balarama, Subhadra should be made. And the ashes of Shri Krishna should be kept by piercing the back of his statue.
A majestic procession is taken out every year in three huge chariots with idols of Lord Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. The idols of Lord Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra are changed after every 12 years, the new idol that remains is also not complete. This temple of Jagannath Puri is the only temple where the idols of three siblings are together, and they are worshipped.
Jagannath Puri Rath Full Details (Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra Information)–
| No | whose chariot is | name of chariot | wheels in chariot | chariot height | number of wood |
| 1. | Jagannath/Sri Krishna | Nandighosh/ Garudadhvaj/ Kapiladhvaj | 16 | 13.5 meters | 832 |
| 2. | Balaram | Taladhwaj/Langladhwaj | 14 | 13.2 m | 763 |
| 3. | Subhadra | Devdalan/Padmadhwaja | 12 | 12.9 m | 593 |
The construction of the chariot of Jagannath Puri starts on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. Read to know the meaning and story of Akshaya Tritiya . It is made in a new way every year, it takes many people to make it, then it is also decorated.
- The chariot of Jagannath (Shri Krishna) – it is 45 feet high, it has 16 wheels, whose diameter is 7 feet, and the whole chariot is decorated with red and yellow cloth. Garuda protects this chariot. Daruka drives this chariot. The flag hoisted in the chariot is called Trailokyamohini. There are four horses in it. In this chariot, Varsha, Gobardhan, Krishna, Narasimha, Ram, Narayan, Trivikram, Hanuman, and Rudra reside. The rope with which it is pulled is called Shankhchuda Nagini.
- Balarama’s chariot – It is 43 feet high, it has 14 wheels. It is decorated with red, blue, and green cloth. It is protected by Vasudev. It is run by a charioteer named Matali. In this, Ganesh, Kartik, Sarvamangala, Pralambri, Hatayudhya, Mrityunjay, Natamvara, Mukteshwar, Sheshdev reside. The flag hoisted in it is called Unani. The rope with which it is pulled is called Basuki Naga.
- Subhadra’s chariot – It has 12 wheels and is 42 feet high. It is decorated with red, and black colored cloth. Jayadurga protects this chariot, and Arjuna is the charioteer in it. In this, the Nandbik flag is waving. Chandi, Chamunda, Ugratara, Vanadurga, Shulidurga, Varahi, Shyamkali, Mangala, and Vimala are seated in this. The rope with which it is pulled is called Swarnachuda Nagini.
Thousands of people pull these chariots together, all the people want to pull this chariot once because it makes them feel that all their wishes are fulfilled. This is the time when Jagannath Ji can be seen up close.
Rath Yatra Celebration –
The Rath Yatra reaches Gundicha Temple, and the next day all three idols are installed in the temple. Then it was Ekadashi, it remains the same. During this, a fair fills in Puri, and various types of events are organized. Mahaprasad is distributed. On the day of Ekadashi, when they are brought back, there is a similar crowd on that day, that day is called Bahuda. The idol of Jagannath is installed in the womb of his temple. Only once a year an idol is lifted from their place.
Rath Yatra is organized in many parts of the country and abroad. In many temples of India, the idol of Krishna ji is taken out for a city tour. Rath Yatra is organized by ISKCON temple abroad. It is organized in more than 100 foreign cities, the main ones being Dublin, London, Melbourne, Paris, New York, Singapore, Toronto, Malaysia, and California. Apart from this, there is a huge event of the Rath Yatra in Bangladesh, which is celebrated like a festival.