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Puri Rath Yatra, famously known as the
Car Festival of Puri, is the most elaborate and pious
festival in Orissa, India, that has still not ceased to astound
believers and visitors, locals and tourists alike, with its
magnificence.
Seas of people flow in from all
direction to get a look at Lord Jagannath of Puri. They jostle
amongst themselves, as waves would do in an ocean, to grab hold of
the rope that draws Lord Jagannath's chariot forward. Be a part of
the crowd; join in their earthly pursuits of drawing the chariot
forward to its destination on your tour to Puri, Orissa, during the
Puri Rath Yatra, with Tourism of Orissa tour packages.
The festivities begin 15 days before
the actual Rath Yatra. On the Jyestha Purnima (full moon day
in June), the idols of Lord Jagannath and his sibling are brought
for a bathing festival in public (Snana Jatra) after which
they would rest away from the public eye. During this resting
period, they are touched up, repainted and dressed in gold ornaments
and heavy embroidery clothes, and are made ready for the Car
Festival.
Celebrated on the auspicious fortnight
of the Ashadha month (June - July), the Puri Rath Yatra is a 3 km
journey to the Gundicha Temple, where Lord Jagannath's aunt
resides. After a 9 days stay at their aunt's home, the return
journey is a reversal of the famous temple procession that is known
to you and me as the Puri Rath Yatra.
The temple priests (pandas) carry out
the idols of the deities from the temple, onto the temple steps, to
their respective thrones in their chariots. Not once are the idols
of lord Jagannath and their siblings allowed to touch the bare
earth. Gold broomsticks sweep the earth and cushions are dusted,
fluffed and replaced with each stop for resting of the deities.
Odissi dancers perform with such passion that even the overflowing
crowds take time out from staring at the idols to appreciate the
energetic rendition of classical dance items.
You can also attend the Chandan
Yatra that is held in June before the Puri Rath Yatra. Though
held before the Rath Yatra in the peak of summer, the Chandan Yatra
marks the end of the Temple processions and festivities that
surround the worship of Lord Jagannath of Puri in Orissa. Here, the
idols of the lord are taken out for 21 consecutive days on boat
rides to the Narendra Sarobar (tank) to be bathed after
application of chandan
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