Ratha Yatra (Puri)

Ratha Yatra of Puri
Ratha Yatra of Puri
	Three chariots of the deities with the temple in the background, Puri
Also called	Ghosha Jātrā
Observed by	Hindu
Type	Religious
Begins	Āshādha Shukla Dvitiyā
Ends	Āshādha Shukla Dashami
2023 date	20 June
2024 date	7 July
Frequency	annual

The Ratha Yatra of Puri, also rendered as the Ratha Jatra (Odia: ରଥଯାତ୍ରା, lit. 'chariot festival') (/ˈrʌθə ˈjɑːtrɑː/, Odia pronunciation: [ɾɔt̪ʰɔ dʒat̪ɾa]), is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July).^[1]^[2] The festival is held at the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India and associated with the deity Jagannath (a form of Vishnu or Krishna).^[1] During the festival, three deities (Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra) are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots on bada danda (the grand avenue) to Gundicha Temple whereby they reside there for a week and then return to the Jagnannath temple. This return trip is referred to as the Bahuda Yatra.^[1]^[3]

On the way, the chariot of Jagannatha, Nandighosa (ନନ୍ଦିଘୋଷ) waits near the crematorium of Bhakta Salabega (ଭକ୍ତ ସାଲବେଗ), a Muslim devotee, to pay him tribute.

On their way back from the Gundicha Temple, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake supposed to be the deity's favourite. After a stay of seven days, the deities return to their abode.

^ ^a ^b ^c Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. p. 567. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
^ "Rath Yatra: The legend behind world's largest chariot festival". BBC News. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
^ Chakraborty, Yogabrata (28 June 2023). "পুরীধাম ও জগন্নাথদেবের ব্রহ্মরূপ বৃত্তান্ত" [Puridham and the tale of lord Jagannath's legendary 'Bramharup']. dainikstatesmannews.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Dainik Statesman (The Statesman Group). Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[:1-1] Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. p. 567. ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.

[2] "Rath Yatra: The legend behind world's largest chariot festival". BBC News. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

[3] Chakraborty, Yogabrata (28 June 2023). "পুরীধাম ও জগন্নাথদেবের ব্রহ্মরূপ বৃত্তান্ত" [Puridham and the tale of lord Jagannath's legendary 'Bramharup']. dainikstatesmannews.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Dainik Statesman (The Statesman Group). Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[1]

[2]

[3]