16/06/2023
RATHA YATRA 2023 .
The Ratha Yatra represents the symbolic journey of Krishna returning to his childhood, accompanied by his siblings rather than his wife, Lakshmi, who remains in the main temple.Out of the 12 main yatras (festivals) dedicated to Lord Jagannath in Puri, the two most significant ones are the Bathing Festival (Jyestha Snana) and the Car Festival (Ratha Yatra) . These two significant festivals are mentioned in the Purushottama Khanda of the Skanda Purana, dating back to the 14th century. . On Akshaya Tritiya, the construction of the chariot commences with a fire worship ritual performed in front of the King of Puri's palace. This auspicious day also signifies the start of the new agricultural season for Odisha farmers, who begin plowing their fields. Additionally, it marks the beginning of the deities' summer festival, known as the Sandalwood Festival or Chandan Yatra. Each year, the chariots of the deities are meticulously reconstructed. Jagannath's chariot, named Nandighosa, features 16 wheels, whilst Balabhadra's chariot, known as Taladhwaja, has 14 wheels. Subhadra's chariot is called Dwarpadalana and possesses 12 wheels. Before Rath Yatra, the idols undergo a ritual bathing with 108 buckets of water, known as Snana Purnima. Until the day of the procession, they are placed in isolation due to the belief that they are unwell - an event called Ansara.