Pic. 1 Sand Sculpture by Sudarshan Patnaik
Ratha Yatra or Chariot Travel -Rohit Kumar Parmar
Ratha Yatra or 'Chariot Travel,' of Lord Jagannath (an abstract representation of Krishna) is held at Puri in Odisha, and at smaller scale in other cities of India. It is the oldest Ratha Yatra, mention of which is found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana and in Kapila Samhita. The festival is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second day in Shukla paksha (waxing moon) of Ashadha month around June/July).
Jagannath Temple is one of the prime pilgrimages of Hindus. Puri is also the location of Shankaracharya Math. The four Shankaracharya Maths in four directions (Sringeri, Somnath, Joshimath and Puri) suggest an effort to mobilise Indian people on a pilgrimage (an adventure/ holiday) and to integrate India. The festival commemorates Jagannath's annual visit to Gundicha Temple.
The presiding deities of Jagannath Temple, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadr, with Sudarshana Chakra (celestial wheel) are moved from the temple in a ceremonial procession to their chariots.
The three chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhdra are newly constructed every year with wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc., customarily brought from the former princely state of Dasapalla by a specialist team of carpenters, who have hereditary rights and privileges for the same.
The three chariots decorated as per traditions followed for centuries stand on Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. The chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara (Lion's Gate). Around each of the chariots are nine Parsva devatas, painted wooden images representing different deities on the chariots' sides. Each chariot has a charioteer (Sarathi) and four horses.
The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by multitude of devotees on the bada danda, the grand avenue to Gundicha Temple (Gundicha– King Indradyumna's Queen), two miles to the North. On the way, the chariot of Lord Jagannatha, Nandighosa waits near the samadhi of Bhakta Salabega, a Muslim devout to pay tributes.
On the day of return, Nandighosa, the cart of Lord Jagannath, did not move until Salabega's arrival. The place where the cart remained stationary to give darshana to Salabega, was later used by Salabega for composing his bhajans in honour of Lord Jagannath. His body was cremated there after his death. The Samadhi of this great devotee still stands on the Grand road near Balagandi. In his honour, every year during the Cart festival, the cart of Lord Jagannath stops for a while near his Samadhi.
Pic. 2 Images of Rath Yatra
On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (maternal aunt's home) near Saradha Bali, Puri, and have an offering of Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake, a favourite of the Lord's. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abode.
Pic. 3 Decorated Poda Pitha
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