Puri Rath Yatra , 2016 will be celebrated from 6th July to 14th July. One of the much awaited Hindu festivals, Rath Yatra or Chariot festival is celebrated every year on the 2nd day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing cycle of the moon) in the 3rd month, according to the lunar calendar of India. The foremost place for this festival is the Jagannath Puri temple, one of the four significant Hindu shrines, which is situated in Odisha.

The festival celebrates Lord Jagannath’s visit along with his siblings to the temple of Queen Gundicha. The Chariot of Lord Jagannath, stops at their maternal aunt’s place at Mausima temple. There they take the meal of sweet pancakes, which is believed as Jagannath’s favorite dish. During his journey, Lord Jagannath will be accompanied by the celestial wheel called Sudarshan Chakra.

Jagannath Puri temple is also known as ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ as the power of ,the god of death, ‘Yama” had been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath. His siblings are lord Balbhadra and deity Shubhadra . Every year, three new splendid chariots are being built for the Puri Yatra of the Gods, Lord Jagannath and his siblings. Every year the carpenters follow century old styles, written in the holy Hindu text, for building and decorating the chariots.

Then arrives the day of Yatra, when these 45 feet high idols are pulled by millions of devotees from all over the world. The act of pulling the Rath (Chariot) by the ropes during Rath Yatra, is believed to be an extremely religious act, and this belief attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world. The chariot of Shubhadra is pulled only by the women.

The Rath Yatra day in Puri is the only day in the whole year when the non Hindu devotees get an opportunity to see the gods and goddess of the Jagannath Puri temple. For the convenience of devotees, Puri Rath Yatra Festival Tours are organized across the world, every year. Tourists from countries take part in the Rath Yatra Tour. Apart from Indian, this festival attracts a huge number of international devotees in Puri. The ISKCON foundation is credited every year, for taking this grand celebration to an international level.

Tour operators in the country are providing different packages for this  celebration in Puri. You can capitalize on this golden opportunity and have a glimpse of the legendary celebration.

Also Read: Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra

By Prakriti Neogi