Where To Celebrate The Best Festivals In India

Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisa

Puri Jagannath temple

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On this day, Lord Jagannath, which also means ‘Lord of the Universe’, is taken out of the temple on beautiful chariots. Along with the idol of Lord Jagannath, idols of Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are also taken out on different chariots and given a tour of the whole city before being taken to the Gundicha Temple. The three idols stay there for some time and then return to the main temple.

Jagannath Yatra In India

The Jagannath Temple at Puri is among the most revered Vaishnava sites in India. While the sacred site maintains a long history of religious and cultural antiquity, the current temple was built by Anantavarman of the Chodaganga dynasty in the 12th century. The deities in the sanctum are associated with King Indrayumna of the Iksvaku dynasty, who was the nephew of Lord Ram.

The Jagannath Temple celebrates 148 festivals annually, which includes 12 yatras, 28 upayatras and 108 ritualistic festivals. Among these the Ratha Yatra festival of Jagannath deva celebrated in the month of Asadha (June-July) is the most well-known one, attracting innumerable devotees from across the world every year. This annual Ratha Yatra is a special occasion when the general public, especially the old and sick ones who cannot visit the shrine, get an opportunity to have a darshan of their revered deities. Besides that, as per local beliefs and scriptures (Harita Smurti. ch vi, sloka16), such open religious celebrations allay the fears of calamities and deaths.

Where To Celebrate Jagannath yatra In India?