04/07/2019
Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, celebrated since centuries in the Indian holy city of Puri. The festival takes place annually on the second day of the waxing cycle of the moon of Ashadha Maasa (the third Hindu Month on the lunar calendar).
The three deities of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and younger sister Subhadra are usually worshipped in the sanctum of the Jagannath temple in Puri. But every year on the 2nd day of the third Hindu month of Asadha – the triads are brought out of the temple onto the Bada Danda street of Puri and placed in three huge chariots which are pulled by thousands of devotees, thus transported 2 km away to the Gundicha Temple.
The deities stay at Gundicha temple for nine days, after which they ride the chariots back to their Jagannath Temple. On the way back, the chariots halt at the Mausi Maa Temple (home of Lord Jagannath’s aunt) where the deities are offered Poda Pitha, a special pancake considered to be the Lord’s favorite.
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra festival is also known by the names of Puri Rath Yatra, Ratha Yatra, Ratha Jatra, Chariot Festival, Chariots of Shri Jagannath, Shri Gundicha Yatra, Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra
