Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2023 | Get Full details here

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is the most Unique Indian Festival. Usually People in India visit temples to meet their gods. In this Festival, Lord Jagannath together with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra comes out of the temple to meet people. 

There is a lot more about the multiple ancient stories, Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra and 2023. Go through the complete article to know everything about this Yatra and enjoy the holy feeling related to this very Special Indian Festival.

Why is Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated?

• Jagannath is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. All three of them live in the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum) in Puri in Odisha, India. 
• Jagannath Puri is one of the 4 most holy sites known as Char Dham of India. It is also said Lord Jagannath is the rebirth of Lord Krishna. 
• In this Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath along with his brother and sister go to his birth place Gundicha Mandap which is 3 km away from Jagannath Temple. They stay at this place for 9 days.This temple remains empty for the rest of the year. 
• Bahuda Yatra is the name of the return journey. Lord Jagannath's aunt's home is Gundicha Mandir. The deities leave their aunt's home after nine days and return to Srimandir. 
• Other than Puri, this Rath Yatra is also celebrated in Gujarat, Moscow, San Francisco & Prague. The literal meaning of Jagannath is “Lord of the Universe”.

Significance of Jagannath Rath Yatra

• Lord Jagannath's travel from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple is represented by the event. 
• It symbolizes devotion, acceptance, and the bond between those from different backgrounds. 
• A popular tradition that develops spiritual ties and appreciates Odisha's rich heritage of culture is the Rath Yatra.
  

Significance of Chariot in Jagannath Rath Yatra

People think pulling the Chariots and taking part in the Rath Yatra compensates for sins and brings blessings. But What is the significance of the Chariot in this Yatra?

The Chariot signifies: 

• The Rath is an ancient vehicle used by gods to travel through the land, air and water. It was made up of special metals and elements. 
• The Rath is where we stand and the ‘wheel of the chariot’ implies the ‘wheels of life’. If any of the wheels break, the journey of life becomes difficult. 
• The ‘bada danda’ implies the ‘road to nirvana’ (free from life's barriers).By doing this Yatra annually, the Lord wants us to know that:

“Nirvana is the only aim of Lives”

For the Rath Yatra, three enormous chariots are built each year by traditional carpenters. Traditional carpenters without formal training construct these chariots.Sudarshan Mekap, the caretaker of the chariots, stated:

"They have no manuals, architectural drawings or modern machines, but a group of craftsmen make gigantic and identical chariots for Lord Jagannath and his two siblings in Puri every year, using only traditional knowledge" 

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2023

The preparations of this highly celebrated festival started a month before. Complete details about this highly devotional festival is given here. 

Date and Time

For 2023, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is scheduled from June 20th at 10:04 Pm and it is expected to end on June 21st at 07:09 Pm.

Yatra Beginning

Once the three lords are established on the adorned chariots, the grand Rath Yatra Begins.

Nandighosha - Lord Jagannath’s Chariot

Taladhwaja - Lord Balabhadra’s Chariot

Darpadalan - Goddess Subhadra’s Chariot

All of these Chariots are pulled by the devotees. 

Watch Live Rath Yatra

A world famous Indian festival is going to telecast Live on channels - DD Bharti, DD-Odia and other Doordarshan channels. 

You can watch live Rath Yatra on Youtube as well for free on channel-

www.youtube.com/DoordarshanNational .

2023 Rath Yatra Details

Complete ‘Rath Yatra’ arrangement responsibility is handled by the Odisha Government. This Yatra is made highly safe for all the devotees as a lot of security forces were deployed in Puri, Patrolling by a Coast Guard Helicopter, and controlling the interceptor boats.

Gujarat 2023 Rath Rath Yatra

• The 146th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath took place on June 20th, Tuesday, in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Police used 3D Mapping technology to monitor the route for security purposes. 
• Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, performed the ‘Pahind Vidhi’. This is a ritual in which the follower cleans the path of the Chariots using a golden broom in the morning time.
• The 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur region served as the starting point for the yatra for Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra.
• Unlike the Puri Rath Yatra, Gujarat Rath Yatra, organized by Jai Makwana,has a robot to power a motor chariot that carries the Idols of the Lords.
• The parade in Ahmedabad will pass through the Old City, encompassing some communally sensitive regions like Jamalpur, Kalupur, Shahpur, and Dariyapur, before returning to the temple by 8:30 p.m. on June 21st, Wednesday.
  

Rath Yatra in Gundicha Mandap 2023

• On June 21st, Wednesday, the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, arrived in Puri's Gundicha shrine.
• The three approximately 45-foot tall wooden chariots were drawn by thousands of bare-chested men, while tens of thousands more people gathered to touch, worship, or simply observe the massive parade.

PM Modi Greeted People 

On June 21st, Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his best wishes for the Rath Yatra, which started in Puri, Odisha, on June 20th, Tuesday. The Prime Minister stated:

"Rath Yatra has become an identity of India throughout the world. It is celebrated in many states of the country. However, the Rath Yatra in Puri has an aura of its own".

He further added:

"When I was in Gujarat I used to participate in the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad. In these Rath Yatras, it is amazing how people from every community come together for the festivities. This also strengthens the unity of the country".

Conclusion

Detailed information about Rath Yatra Festival, what it is, why is it celebrated, its significance, and Jagannath Rath Yatra of 2023 details like - Date and Time, Yatra Beginning, Where to watch it live, the Chariot decoration, PM’s greet on it and much more is given above here.