| Holiday Name: | Ratha Yatra |
| Type: | Hindu |
| Longtype: | Religious |
| Observedby: | Hindu |
| Begins: | Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya |
| Ends: | Ashadha Shukla Dashami |
| Date2020: | 23 June (Tuesday)[1] |
| Date2021: | 12 July (Monday)[2] |
| Date2023: | 20 June |
| Date2024: | 7 July |
| Date2025: | 27 June |
| Date2026: | 16 July |
| Frequency: | annual |
| Nickname: | Ghosa Jatra |
| Duration: | 1 week, 2 days |
Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot.[3] [4] They are held annually during festivals in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.[5] The term also refers to the popular annual Ratha Yatra of Puri[6] that involves a public procession with a chariot with deities Jagannath (Vishnu avatar), Balabhadra (his brother), Subhadra (his sister) and Sudarshana Chakra (his weapon) on a ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot.[7] [8]
Ratha Yatra processions have been historically common in Vishnu-related (Jagannath, Rama, Krishna) traditions in Hinduism across India,[9] in Shiva-related traditions,[10] saints and goddesses in Nepal,[11] with Tirthankaras in Jainism,[12] as well as tribal folk religions found in the eastern states of India.[13] Notable Ratha Yatras in India include the Ratha Yatra of Puri, the Dhamrai Ratha Yatra in Bangladesh and the Ratha Yatra of Mahesh. Hindu communities outside India, such as in Singapore, celebrate Ratha Yatra such as those associated with Jagannath, Krishna, Shiva and Mariamman.[14] According to Knut Jacobsen, a Ratha Yatra has religious origins and meaning, but the events have a major community heritage, social sharing and cultural significance to the organizers and participants.[15]
Western impressions of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Puri as a display of unstoppable force are the origin of the English word juggernaut.
| Ratha Yatra in Hinduism |
Ratha Yatra is derived from two Sanskrit words, Ratha, which means chariot or carriage, and Yatra which means journey or pilgrimage.[16] In other Indian languages such as Odia, the phonetic equivalents are used, such as jatra.
Ratha Yatra is a journey in a chariot accompanied by the public. It typically refers to a procession (journey) of deities, people dressed like deities, or simply religious saints and political leaders.[5] The term appears in medieval texts of India such as the Puranas, which mention the Ratha Yatra of Surya (Sun god), of Devi (Mother goddess), and of Vishnu. These chariot journeys have elaborate celebrations where the individuals or the deities come out of a temple accompanied by the public journeying with them through the Ksetra (region, streets) to another temple or to the river or the sea. Sometimes the festivities include returning to the sacrosanctum of the temple.[5] [17]
Traveler Fa-Hien who visited India during 400 CE notes the way temple car festivals were celebrated in India.
A stunning example of Kalinga architecture is the Jagannath Temple, which was constructed in the twelfth century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. The goddesses Subhadra, Balabhadra, and Lord Jagannath reside in this hallowed shrine. The festival of Ratha Yatra, which draws pilgrims and visitors from all over the world, is closely linked to the history of the Jagannath Temple.
Preparations for Ratha Yatra 2024Preparations for Ratha Yatra 2024Ratha Yatra 2024 is being planned months in advance, with artisans building the enormous chariots for the gods. Every year, each chariot is constructed from scratch utilizing particular wood species and customary blueprints. The largest chariot belongs to Lord Jagannath and is named Nandighosa. Taladhwaja belongs to Balabhadra and Darpadalana to Subhadra.
The Chariot Festival: Day OneIn a custom known as Pahandi, the gods are ceremoniously taken out of the Jagannath Temple on the day of the Ratha Yatra. Devotees are dancing and chanting in the streets during this colorful and joyful celebration. After that, the gods are mounted on their appropriate chariots and prepared to travel to Gundicha Temple.
The Chariot Festival Ratha Yatra Day One[18] The Journey to Gundicha TempleThe Journey to Gundicha TempleThe atmosphere is electrifying with excitement and dedication as thousands of devotees pull the chariots. There is singing, dancing, and nonstop hymn chanting during the three-kilometer trek to Gundicha Temple. The yearly pilgrimage of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to their birthplace is represented by this procession.
Gundicha Temple and the Nine-Day SojournUpon reaching Gundicha Temple, the deities are welcomed with elaborate rituals. They stay at the Gundicha Temple for nine days, during which various religious ceremonies and cultural events take place. This period is known as the Gundicha Yatra, where devotees can offer prayers and seek blessings from the deities.
Ratha Yatra 2024 Gundicha Temple and the Nine-Day SojournBahuda Yatra The Return Journey of Ratha YatraBahuda Yatra: The Return JourneyNine days later, the gods set out on the Bahuda Yatra, a trek back to the Jagannath Temple. Devotees drag the chariots back to their original abode in this equally magnificent event. For the devotees, the trip back is a time of great joy and celebration.
Suna Besha: The Golden AttireAt the Ratha Yatra event, the Suna Besha, where the gods are decked out in gold jewelry and decorations, is one of the highlights. The day following the gods’ return to the Jagannath Temple is when this magnificent ceremony takes place. The finale of the Ratha Yatra celebrations is the stunning sight of the deities dressed in gold, drawing thousands of devotees.[19]
The Ratha Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities of the world since 1968 through the Hare Krishna movement. Local chapters put on the festival annually in over a hundred cities worldwide.[20]
See main article: Dhamrai Rathayatra.
Dhamrai Jagannath Ratha is a chariot temple, a Roth, dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath located in Dhamrai, Bangladesh. The annual Jagannath Ratha Yatra is a famous Hindu festival attracting thousands of people. The Ratha Yatra in Dhamrai is one of the most important events for the Hindu community of Bangladesh.[21] The original historical Roth was burnt down by the Pakistan Army in 1971.[17] The Roth has since been rebuilt with Indian assistance.
Iskcon Swamibagh is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Krishna located in Swamibagh, Dhaka. The annual Jagannath Ratha Yatra is a famous Hindu festival attracting thousands of people. The Ratha Yatra in Swamibagh is one of the most important events for the Hindu community of Bangladesh.
See main article: Rathayatra of Mahesh.
The Rathayatra of Mahesh is the second oldest chariot festival in India (after the Rath Yatra at Puri) and the oldest in Bengal,[22] having been celebrated since 1396 CE.[23] It is a month-long festival held at Mahesh in Serampore of West Bengal and a grand fair is held at that time. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes (Roshi) attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra on the journey from the temple to Gundicha Bari (Masir bari) and back. Subhadra is worshipped with Krishna in Jagannath Yatra.[24]
The practice of Ratha Yatra in Manipur was introduced in the nineteenth century. The Khaki Ngamba chronicle mentions that on a Monday in either April or May 1829, the King of Manipur Gambhir Singh was passing through Sylhet whilst on a British expedition against the Khasis. Two processions were being prepared by Sylhet's Muslim and Hindu communities respectively. The Islamic month of Muharram in the history of Sylhet was a lively time during which tazia processions were common. This happened to fall on the same day as Ratha Yatra. Sensing possible communal violence, the Faujdar of Sylhet, Ganar Khan, requested the Hindu community to delay their festival by one day. Contrary to the Nawab's statement, a riot emerged between the two communities. As a Hindu himself, Singh managed to defend the Hindus and disperse the Muslim rioters with his Manipuri troops. The Ratha Yatra was not delayed, and Singh stayed to take part in it. Revered by the Hindu community as a defender of their faith, he enjoyed the procession and initiated the practice of celebrating Ratha Yatra and worshipping Jagannath in his own homeland of Manipur.[25]