Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Date, Significance, Everything You Need to Know

Every year in Puri, Odisha, India, there is a great celebration surrounding the Jagannath Rath Yatra with lots of joy, devotion and passion. Lord Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Krishna or Vishnu, and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are honored in this magnificent event. The nine-day celebrations highlight this ancient tradition's rich cultural legacy and spiritual significance. Thousands of people travel from India and other countries to see this magnificent Hindu celebration. It is a beloved festival among Hindu community, and devotees eagerly await its arrival so they can take part in its magnificent celebration. With Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024 rapidly approaching, we are here to provide you an overview of this majestic festival in this post. So, let’s get started….

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: When will it Start?  

Jagannath Rath Yatra, the nine-day popular Hindu festival takes place every year, in the month of June or July. It honors Lord Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Krishna or Vishnu, and is observed in Puri, India. The three gods Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are loaded into three enormous chariots and removed from the Jagannath Temple. From the Jagannath Temple, devotees pull chariots to the Gundicha Temple. The Bahuda Yatra is the name for the deities' return trip from Gundicha Temple to Jagannath Temple. The biggest and oldest Hindu chariot festival, held yearly, is the Jagannath Rath Yatra. The Rath Yatra will take place this year on July 7, 2024, and last for nine days.

Significance of Rath Yatra: Why Jagannath Ratha Yatra is Celebrated?

The following are some of the Jagannath Rath Yatra's significances which are as follows:

·       The celebration recreates Lord Jagannath's trip to his aunt's home.

·       The festival is a potent symbol of Odisha's rich culture and the faith of its people.

·       The three deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, are said to have emerged from the Jagannath Temple and will travel to the Gundicha Temple.

·       People who get to touch the Rath or help pull it during the procession will be granted "Punya."

·       The festival is a celebration of the divine connection between humans and deities.

·       The festival is a celebration of devotion and a means for people to atone for their sins and receive salvation.

·       It dissolves social barriers and enables people from all walks of life to come together and be united in their faith.

Jagannath Rath Yatra—Overview

Every year, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July), Puri hosts the Ratha Yatra, also known as the Ratha Jatra, which is regarded as the oldest and biggest Hindu chariot festival. The celebration, which honors the god Jagannath (an incarnation of Vishnu or Krishna), takes place in the Indian state of Odisha. Three deities, Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra, are brought to Gundicha Temple during the festival by throngs of worshippers in three enormous wooden chariots on Bada Danda, the grand avenue. They stay there for a week, after that they return back to the Jagnannath temple

. The name of the return trip of the Ratha Yatra is called the Bahuda Yatra.

The nine-day event highlights the spiritual significance and rich cultural legacy of this age-old custom. Months in advance, devotees begin preparing for the holy journey and artisans begin creating elaborate decorations. The deities, decked out in flowers, fabrics, and priceless stones, are ceremoniously brought out of the Jagannath Temple and placed in three imposing chariots on the first day.

Lord Jagannath is carried by the largest chariot, Nandighosa, while Balabhadra and Subhadra are carried by the other two chariots, Taladhwaja and Devadalana, respectively. Thousands of followers, referred to as "Rathakaras," pull the chariots because they view it as an honor to take part in this holy ritual.

Devotees play musical instruments, dance in ecstasy, and chant hymns as the chariots pass through Puri's streets. Drumbeats, incense stick fragrance, and traditional Odia music accompany the procession.

Beginning at the Jagannath Temple and ending at the Gundicha Temple—the birthplace of Gundicha, Lord Jagannath's aunt—the journey takes approximately three kilometers. The gods are kept in the Gundicha Temple for seven days, during which time devotees pray, perform rituals, and make requests for blessings.

The journey back, which is also known as the Bahuda Yatra, commences on the eighth day of the Ratha Yatra festival. The Rath Yatra comes to an end when the chariots reverse course and the gods are brought back to the Jagannath Temple.

With historical records going all the way back to the fourth century AD, this ancient festival has been observed for more than 2,000 years. The victory of good over evil, the strength of devotion, and human unity are all represented by the Jagannath Rath Yatra.

To sum up, the Jagannath Rath Yatra draws millions of devotees from all over the world and is a colorful celebration of faith, culture, and community. Its importance transcends religious lines, exhibiting the magnificence of Indian ancestry and the unwavering human spirit.